Prevalence of allergic diseases and associated factors among schoolaged children in Shanghai / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To examine the prevalence of allergic diseases in schoolaged children from Shanghai and to explore related factors so as to produce epidemiological data regarding allergic diseases in children.@*Methods@#Multistage cluster sampling was used to carry out the study in Shanghai from April to June 2019. A total of 10 686 children aged 7-12 years from 17 primary schools participated in the survey. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC)Scale was used to evaluate allergic diseases. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the related factors.@*Results@#The overall prevalence of allergic diseases among schoolaged children in Shanghai was 47.0%. A higher prevalence was observed among boys (50.4% vs 43.3% in girls, χ2=54.44, P<0.01). Common allergic diseases included asthma (13.9%), allergic rhinitis (18.2%), and atopic dermatitis (34.3%). The Logistic regression analysis showed that the common risk factors of asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis included the following:male gender (OR=1.52,1.44,1.22); mother has a bachelors degree or above (OR=1.26,1.77,1.84); family history of allergic diseases (OR=2.87,4.24,2.57); only child (OR=1.16,1.28,1.22); curtain cleaning frequency <1 time/month (OR=1.41,1.79,1.77); room not cleaned daily (OR=1.14,1.18,1.20); and dust exposure frequency ≥1 time/month (OR=1.45,1.56,1.42), all P<0.05. These three types of allergic diseases were also associated with unique risk factors that dependent on socialenvironmentalbehavioral factors.@*Conclusion@#Compared with previous data, the prevalence of allergic diseases among schoolaged children in Shanghai increased significantly in 2019. The related influencing factors involve multiple variables including demographics, environmental exposure and behavior, which warrant further exploration.

Eating behaviors and growth status in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To discuss the correlation between growth status and eating behaviors in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), providing reference data for management and dietary behavior guidance among ADHD children.@*Methods@#A total of 703 children aged 4-13 years old were collected from the ADHD patients from Children s Health Department of Children s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from June to September, 2019. The demographic characteristics and information regarding children’s eating behaviors were collected by self-designed questionnaire and Chinese version of the parent-completed Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire(CEBQ). The correlation physical growth with dietary behaviors among the ADHD children were analyzed.@*Results@#Food avoidant behaviors, including satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating and emotional undereating in ADHD children with thinness scored significantly higher than that of children with short stature, overweight and obesity(F=17.57, 29.32, 4.07, P<0.01), while food approach behaviors, including food responsiveness, enjoyment of food, desire to drink and emotional overeating scored higher in obese children, compared to other three groups(F=24.54, 47.44, 2.96,5.85, P<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for the confounders, satiety responsiveness, slowness in eating were still negatively associated with BMI-Z score of the ADHD children(B=-0.05, -0.07, P<0.01). Food responsiveness, enjoyment of food and emotional overeating had a positive association with the BMI-Z score(B=0.04, 0.09, 0.05, P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Emotional eating and high food responsiveness in ADHD children are associated with the overweight and obesity, while long eating time and high satiety responsiveness is associated with underweight among ADHD children. For clinical doctors and parents, problematic eating behaviors among ADHD children should be concerned regarding its negative effects on growth and development, besides core symptoms of ADHD.

Familial progressive hyper- and hypopigmentation: a report on a Chinese family and evidence for genetic heterogeneity

Abstract Background: Familial progressive hyper- and hypopigmentation (FPHH) is a rare genodermatosis that is characterized by diffuse hyper- and hypopigmented spots on the skin and mucous membranes. It is caused by a pathogenic mutation of the KITLG gene. Objectives: To investigate the clinical features and mutation of the KITLG gene in a Chinese family with FPHH. Methods: Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of lesions from the proband was performed. The KITLG gene was screened for the presence of mutations. Results: A Chinese family containing 14 individuals with FPHH was described, and the proband was a 5-year-old girl showing diffuse hyper- and hypopigmented lesions on her extremities and trunk. Histopathological and immunohistochemical staining for S100 and HMB45 of skin biopsy specimens from the hyperpigmented areas showed a striking increase in melanin throughout the epidermis, especially in the basal cell layer, and staining of hypopigmented area specimens displayed lower levels of melanin in the epidermis. Mutation analysis of the KITLG gene was performed, but no mutation was found. Study limitations: The new pathogenic gene was not found. Conclusion: A family with FPHH was described. Analysis revealed that its members did not have any mutations of the KITLG gene, which provided evidence for genetic heterogeneity of this genodermatosis.

Correlation of epidermal growth factor receptor overexpression with increased epidermal growth factor receptor gene copy number in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most frequent malignancies in China and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is widely distributed in human epithelial cell membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate the protein overexpression and gene copy number of EGFR in ESCC, and help to identify patients who may benefit from EGFR targeted therapies.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to analyze the expression of EGFR in 105 cases of ESCC, 16 cases of squamous epithelial atypical hyperplasia, and 11 cases of normal esophageal tissue. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was performed to analyze the gene copy number in 80 cases of ESCC, eight cases of squamous epithelial atypical hyperplasia, and eight samples of normal esophageal tissue.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The IHC-positive rates of EGFR in 105 cases of ESCC, 16 cases of squamous epithelial atypical hyperplasia, and 11 normal esophageal tissues were 97% (102/105), 44% (7/16), and 18% (2/11) respectively. The difference in the expression of EGFR among different esophageal tissue groups had statistically significance (P < 0.05). Among the 105 cases of ESCC, overexpression of EGFR was found in 90 cases (86%), of which 55 cases scored 3+ for EGFR staining and 35 cases scored 2+. In ESCC, the expression of EGFR was significantly correlated with depth of invasion and TNM stage (P < 0.05), but not with other parameters. The FISH-positive rates of EGFR in 80 cases of ESCC, the eight cases of squamous epithelial atypical hyperplasia, and eight samples of normal esophageal tissue were 31.3% (25/80), 0 (0/8) and 0 (0/8) respectively. In ESCC, EGFR gene amplification was found in 17 (21%) cases, high polysomy in 8 (10%) cases, disomy in 34 cases, low trisomy in 17 cases, and high trisomy in four cases. EGFR FISH-positive was significantly correlated with depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). EGFR FISH-positive was significantly associated with overexpression of EGFR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Protein overexpression and/or increased gene copy number of EGFR is common in ESCC, and EGFR targeted therapy may be appropriate for ESCC patients.</p>

Gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas with a micropapillary pattern: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas with a micropapillary pattern differentiation (GAMPD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-three cases of GAMPD arising in gastrointestinal tract were retrospectively reviewed. Immunohistochemical study for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), insulin-like growth factor II mRNA-binding protein-3 (IMP3) and E-cadherin was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Amongst the 73 cases studied, the micropapillary pattern accounted for 5% to 70% of the tumor component. It was often seen in a background of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. As compared with conventional adenocarcinoma, nodal metastasis was more frequently observed and the TNM tumor stage was statistically higher in GAMPD. The occurrence of micropapillary component in metastatic lymph nodes positively correlated with the proportion of micropapillary pattern in primary lesions. EMA staining on the stroma-facing surface of tumor micropapillae was demonstrated in 52.1% (38/73) of the cases. As compared with EMA-negative GAMPD, EMA-positive GAMPD was more in the stomach (P = 0.018), and with more metastatic lymph nodes (6.6 ± 5.8 vs 3.8 ± 4.7, P = 0.029). The rate of IMP3 expression in EMA-positive GAMPD was 86.8%(33/38), which was higher than that in conventional adenocarcinoma. In contrast, the rate of E-cadherin expression in GAMPD was lower than that in conventional adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GAMPD is a distinctive variant of gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas and different from conventional adenocarcinoma in tumor morphology, immunophenotype and biologic behavior. It carries an aggressive clinical course and poor prognostic outcome. Immunohistochemical study for EMA, IMP3 and E-cadherin would be helpful in the diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of GAMPD.</p>

Expression of BRG1 and BRM proteins in prostatic cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of BRG1 and BRM, the catalytic subunits expressed by SWI/SNF, in benign and malignant prostatic tissues and to correlate the BRG1/BRM expression with the development and progression of prostatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression levels of the BRG1 and BRM proteins in benign and malignant prostatic tissues were studied using semi-quantitative immunohisto-chemistry. The results correlated with various clinical and pathologic parameters.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The average immuno-reactive score for BRG1 expression in prostatic cancer tissues was significantly higher than that in benign prostatic tissues (57+/-9.8 and 19+/-4.1, respectively, P = 0.000 17). The difference was more obvious in the high-grade cancer. On the other hand, BRM expression exhibited a heterogeneous pattern. The average immuno-reactive score for BRM expression was lower in cancer tissues than in benign tissues (112+/-17 and 151+/-19, respectively, P = 0.0047). BRG1 and BRM demonstrated a reciprocal expression pattern in benign and malignant tissues. The average immuno-reactive score for BRG1 expression was higher in the cancer cases with a larger tumor volume than in the cases with a smaller tumor volume (P = 0.0112).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of BRG1 and BRM correlates with the development of prostatic cancer. Increased BRG1 expression may have certain implications in tumor progression.</p>

Diagnosis and treatment of parathyroid carcinoma: 9 cases report and literature review / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the diagnosis and surgical treatment of parathyroid carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 9 cases of parathyroid carcinoma treated from January 1967 to December 2009 was analyzed retrospectively with the review of related Chinese literatures.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Parathyroid carcinoma accounted for 8.9% (8/90) of all patients with primary hyperparathyroidism in our hospital, and the other one case was transferred from another hospital. Of the patients, 8 cases were found with primary hyperparathyroidism. Primary surgery was carried out with small incision: 5 patients underwent en bloc resection, among which, 3 cases received central lymph node dissection; 2 patients received simple parathyroidectomy; one case underwent palliative tumor resection. The case from another hospital received subtotal thyroidectomy. Considering preoperative, intraoperative data and frozen sections pathology, all patients were diagnosed as parathyroid carcinoma. Nine patients were followed-up for 1 - 14 years, no recurrence occurred, and the patient received palliative resection died from carcinoma two years after the operation. In previous Chinese literatures and this group, there were total 146 patients reported as parathyroid carcinoma. Those patients were diagnosed through routine histopathology, accounted for 1.8% - 11.5% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The diagnosis of parathyroid carcinoma is established according to severe hypercalcemia, clinical features, subset B-ultrasound and Tc(99m)-sestamibi scanning, intraoperative finding of adherence to close structures and histopathology. The initial surgical procedure of choice is en bloc resection of the tumor by minimally invasive small incision, including adjacent structures and ipsilateral thyroidectomy. The prognosis is favorable after the operation.</p>

Expression of PDGFR-alpha in gastrointestinal stromal tumor and its clinical significance / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and clinical significance of platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFR-alpha) in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Paraffin embedded tissue specimens from 119 GISTs were analyzed for PDGFR-alpha expression by immunohistochemical method, and specimens from non-GISTs were used as controls. Positive signals were shown in cytoplasma and cell membrane.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of 119 GISTs,78 (65.5%) were positive for PDGFR-alpha . The expression rate of PDGFR-alpha protein in very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk and high risk cases was 52.9 % (9/17), 71.0% ( 22/31), 67.9% (19/28) and 65.1% (28/43), respectively (P>0.05). PDGFR-alpha protein expression rate was significantly different between GISTs and non-GISTs (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PDGFR-alpha combined with CD117 can be used in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of GIST, but it may not be used as a prognostic index.</p>

Microsatellite instability and allele-specific chromosome 3p deletion in breast cancer and precancerous lesions / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the incidence and clinicopathologic significance of MSI and LOH on 3P in breast carcinoma and its precancerous lesions, intraductal papillary adenoma and ductal carcinoma in situ.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>41 paired sporadic invasive breast carcinomas, 13 archival precancerous lesion specimens of the breast and 14 couples of benign hyperplasia were collected. Twelve microsatellites on chromosomes 2p, 3p, 5q, 6q, 16q, 17q, eleven markers on chromosome 3p were amplified for MSI and LOH, respectively, by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR ) with designed primers and detecting after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In addition, the expression of protein of hMSH2, hMLHI, FHIT, ER, and PR were detected by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MSI was observed, at least two microsatellite markers, in 15 out of 41 (36. 6%) of the carcinomas, almost all belonging to poorly or intermediately differentiated carcinoma. Instability was shown in 9 of the 13 cases of precancerous lesions, but only 2 among them had more than 2 MSI sites. There was no MSI in benign hyperplasia. MSI was targeted predominately at D3S1766, D2S2739 in both carcinomas and precancerous lesions. Of the 11 loci examined, D3S1295, D3S1029 and D3S1038 were identified as the locus with most frequent LOH which were all correlated significantly with some clinicopathological parameters such as histological type, lymph node metastasis in breast cancer, while D3S1295 and D3S1029 were the most frequent markers in precancerous lesions. LOH of D3S1295 had significant correlation with negative expression of FHIT. Positive expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein was detected in breast carcinomas in scattered distribution and their positive rate was 45% and 40% , respectively. In precancerous lesions, hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein showed diffuse expression and their positive rate was 61. 54% and 76. 92% , respectively, significantly lower than that in the control tissues.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Defective expression of MMR genes is closely associated with the development of breast cancer. Genomic instability might play a role in the early stage during multi-step mammary carcinogenesis. MSI indicates poor histological differentiation in breast carcinoma. D3S1766 and D2S2739 might be the sensitive sites to detect MSI in breast carcinoma and precancerous lesions. The smallest common LOH deletion regions seem likely to be situated between 3p14 and 3p25, indicating the existence of breast tumor related genes in those regions and some of them might affect tumor development.</p>

Effects of acitretin on the expression of signaling pathway-related genes in epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of acitretin on the expression of signaling pathway-related genes in an epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The mRNA expression levels of STAT3, cyclin D1 and p42/44MAPK were detected in a human epidermal carcinoma cell line A431 by RT-PCR. Their expressions at protein level were studied by Western blot. The expression levels were studied in cells treated with or without 10(-5) mol/L acitretin at different time intervals.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Acitretin could significantly inhibit the expression of STAT3 and cyclin D1 mRNA in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The STAT3 and cyclin D1 protein expression levels were down-regulated. Acitretin could also down-regulate the p42/4MAPK mRNA expression. (2) After incubation with acitretin, the mRNA level of cyclin D1 cells was positively correlated with that of STAT3 (P < 0.05). The cyclin D1 protein level was also positively correlated with that of STAT3 (P < 0.05). However there was no correlation of mRNA levels between cyclin D1 and p42/44MAPK.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Regulation of the Jak/STAT3 signaling pathway may play an important role in the effect of acitretin on epidermal squamous-cell carcinoma cells. The abnormal expression of STAT3 can be regarded as a prerequisite for acitretin treatment effect.</p>

Comparision of HER2/neu oncogene detected by chromogenic in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry in breast cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Through comparison of HER2/neu oncogene detected by chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in breast cancer, to explore the effect of CISH on detecting gene amplification of HER2.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Selected formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded breast samples whose pathological types were infiltrating ductal carcinomas (255 retrospective samples, 271 prospective samples), and these samples were detected by IHC and CISH.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) In the retrospective study, CISH identified gene amplification in 91.6% of IHC score 3+ tumors (120/131) and in 56.5% of IHC score 2+ tumors (39/69), thus the concordant ratio between IHC and CISH was 81.2% (207/255). The two results showed significant correlation (P<0.01). (2) In the prospective study, the ratio of HER2 protein over expression detected by IHC was 31.7%, the ratio of HER2 gene amplification detected by CISH was 27.3%. CISH identified gene amplification in 91.4% of IHC score 3+ tumors (53/58) and in 46.4% of IHC score 2+ tumors (13/28), Concordant ratio between IHC and CISH was 89.7% (243/271). Two results showed significant correlation (P<0.01). (3) Paired CISH/FISH results were concordant in 14 of 15 cases. The remaining case was detected by FISH, but showed no HER2 gene amplification by CISH. (4) The gene amplification by CISH had a significantly reverse correlation with ER and PR expression (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results of HER2 gene amplification detected by CISH have high concordance with the results detectd by IHC and FISH. CISH is a novel technique for detecting HER2 gene amplification.</p>

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 3p in breast cancer and precancerous lesion / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 3p in breast cancers and precancerous lesion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>LOH at 11 microsatellite loci was detected in 41 cases of breast cancers and 12 cases of precancerous lesion by polymerase chain reaction and silver stain. The expressions of ER, PR, FHIT and hMLH1 were detected in breast cancer by immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LOH on 3p was detected in 97% of breast cancers. D3S1295, D3S1029 and D3S1038 located at 3p14, 3p21-p22 and 3p25 were identified as the loci with most frequent LOH (53.1%, 43.6% and 52.5%). LOH of D3S1038 and expression of hMLH1 protein correlated with several clinicopathological features. LOH of D3S1295 had significant negative correlation with the expression of FHIT. In breast precancerous lesions, LOH on 3p was detected in 41.7% lesions. D3S1295 and D3S1029 were also identified as the most frequent LOH locus (27.3% and 16.7%). The smallest common LOH region seems likely lie between 3p14 and 3p25.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The smallest LOH region indicates the existence of breast tumor related genes and some of them affect gene expression.</p>

Acitretin induces apoptosis and changes of relative signaling pathway in epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of Acitretin on growth inhibition and apoptosis of epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 and its molecular mechanisms.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A431 cells were treated with Acitretin at the concentration of 10(-5)mol/L in different time intervals. The inhibition of cell growth was determined by MTT method, morphological changes were observed by electron microscopy, apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry and Annexin-V staining. The mRNA expression levels of STAT3, cyclinD1 and p42/44MAPK were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein expression levels of P-STAT3 and CyclinD1 were observed by Western blot in A431 cells.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1)Acitretin inhibited the growth of A431 cells in vitro in a dose-and time-dependent manner. Morphological changes revealed characteristics of cell apoptosis. Flow cytometry showed more sub-G(1) phase in A431 cells and more cells positively stained with Annexin-V. (2)Acitretin significantly inhibited the expression of STAT3 and CyclinD1 mRNA in A431 cells in vitro in a time-dependent manner(P<0.05). The p-STAT3 and CyclinD1 protein levels were down regulated. The Acitretin could also down regulate the p42/4MAPK mRNA in A431 cells. (3) After incubation with Acitretin, the mRNA level of CyclinD1 in A431 cells was positively correlated with that of STAT3(p<0.05). The protein level of CyclinD1 was also positively correlated with that of p-STAT3(p<0.05). However, there was no correlation between Mrna levels of CyclinD1 and p42/44MAPK.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1)Acitretin plays an inhibitory role in the tumor cell growth and induces the cell apoptosis in A431 cells. (2)The regulation of the Jak/STAT3 signaling pathway may play an important role in inducing growth inhibition and apoptosis by Acitretin in A431 cells.</p>

Effect of STAT3 phosphorylation and p53 expression on human epidermal non melanoma cutaneous tumors / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of stat3 phosphorylation and p53 expression on human epidermal non-melanoma cutaneous tumours.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry technique was employed to measure the expression of p-stat3 and p53 protein in skin tissue from 30 cases of skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), 20 cases of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), 20 cases of seborrhoeic keratosis (SK) and 20 normal subjects.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) p-stat3 protein was abnormally increased in SCC and BCC as compared with normal skin and SK. Expression of p-stat3 in SCC was also significantly higher than that in BCC. (2) Expression of p-stat3 was higher in poorly-differentiated cancers than that in well-differentiated cancers in SCC. The positive rate of p-stat3 expression was correlated with the depth of tumor invasion, but not with tumor size. (3) There was no p53 protein expression on normal skin and SK, it was significantly upregulated in SCC and BCC. In SCC, the intensity of p53 expression was associated with tumor differentiation. There was no correlation between the positive rate of p53 expression and the depth of tumor invasion, whereas the positive rate of p53 expression was correlated with the sun-exposure area. (4) There existed positive correlation between the expression intensity of p-stat3 and p53 in SCC (r=0.641, P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) The overexpression of p-stat3 may play an important role in the development of epidermal tumors. (2) The abnormal activation of stat3 may be related to metastatic potentials in SCC. (3) Both p53 gene and stat3 may contribute to the pathogenesis of skin SCC.</p>

Histopathological changes in rat transplanted hepatoma after lipiodol transarterial embolization / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the histopathological effect of hepatic arterial infusion of lipiodol on transplanted hepatoma in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourty-one rats bearing Walker-256 transplanted hepatoma were randomly divided into embolization group (n = 35, divided in 5 subgroups, with 7 rats in each) and control group (n = 6). Lipiodol (0.5 ml/kg)emulsified with 0.2 - 0.3 ml of 76% urografin (v:v = 1:1) was infused via gastroduodenal artery into hepatic artery in embolization group. Rats in the control group were given via the same route urografin only. Histopathological changes of the treated tumors were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the control rats treated with urografin alone, the average tumor size increased 2.8 fold on day 3, while that in the lipiodol treated rats increased 1.7 fold (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, on day 3, 5, 10 after embolization treatment, tumor necrosis was more extensive (P < 0.01). In one of the treated rats, the tumor was completely necrotic on day 10. Inflammatory reaction was marked in the early post-embolic period, but it was replaced by fibrous tissue encapsulation. From day 1 on, in 17 of the 18 treated rats, apoptotic cells, identified by typical morphology under light and electronic microscopes, were observed, mainly in the tumor periphery.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In addition to cellular necrosis, apoptosis may be another important mechanism leading to cell death in hepatoma treated with transarterial embolization.</p>

Application of immunohistochemistry-laser microdissection-PCR technique in detecting p53 gene mutation in paraffin sections of gastric cancer / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the application of immunohistochemistry-laser microdissection-polymerase chain reaction (IHC-LMD-PCR) technique in detecting p53 gene mutations using paraffin sections of advanced gastric cancers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of p53 protein in 41 paraffin-embedded advanced gastric cancer samples was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The p53-positive or negative carcinoma cells and normal foveolar cells far from the main tumor were then isolated by LMD. The DNA was extracted and p53 gene at exon 5 - 8 amplified by PCR. The products were then analyzed by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and automated sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>p53 gene was successfully amplified in all the 41 specimens. Overexpression of p53 protein was noted in 11 cases. Mutations of p53 gene were found in 15 cases. Eight of the 11 p53-overexpressed cases had p53 gene mutations. On the other hand, p53 gene mutations were found in only 7 of the 30 p53 protein-negative cases. The presence of p53 gene mutations significantly correlated with p53 protein overexpression (P = 0.004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IHC-LMD-PCR technique can be successfully applied in paraffin sections of gastric cancers for the detection of p53 gene mutations. The results correlate well with overexpression of p53 protein.</p>

Study on gastrointestinal stromal tumors by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the histogenesis and neural differentiation of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The ultrastructural morphology and neural differentiated antigen expression were studied in 20 cases of GIST using electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All of the 20 cases mentioned were positive for c-kit expression. The ultrastructural features of neural differentiation were observed in 7 cases, while no neural or myogenic differentiation seen in 12 cases. Myogenic differentiation to smooth muscle was observed in one case. The ultrastructural features of neural differentiation included scattered or cluster distribution of dense core granules in cytoplasm and cytoplasmic processes; formation of synaptic construction of cell processes; and neurogenic-like processes. In some cases pinocytotic vesicles under the cell membrane and skenoid fibers were seen. Neural differentiation with dense core granules was seen in one case in benign, one case in borderline and five cases in malignant group. The positive reactivity of neural differentiated antigen NSE, CD99, S-100p and CD56 in cases of the neural differentiation group appeared in seven, seven, five and four cases respectively, which were significantly higher than that of the undifferentiated group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It's rather difficult to differentiate GIST accompanying with neural differentiation from gastrointestinal autonomic nerve tumor if depending only on its histology and immunophenotype appearance, since many features were overlapping in both tumors. Examination of the neural ultrastructures and neural differentiated antigen in GIST might be helpful to clarify the neural differentiation and potential behavior of GIST.</p>

Alteration of the content of minor elements in apoptotic cells induced by anti-cancer drugs with synchronous radiation / 浙江大学学报·医学版

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of content of minor elements and its biological implication in apoptotic processes. METHODS: The content of minor elements of apoptotic cells from breast cancer induced by anti-cancer drugs was quantitatively analysed with synchronous radiation X-ray fluorescence. RESULTS: Seven kinds of minor elements including Ti, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga and Ge as well as five major elements P, S, Ca, Cl and K were detected in the apoptotic and control cells. The content of elements Zn and P in apoptotic cells after 48 h treatment with taxol and colchicine was significantly increased higher than that in the control cells P<0.05). The content of element Fe in 48 h treatment with taxol was significantly decreased lower than that in the control cells P<0.05). The same trend of change of elements was observed during the process of apoptotic cells death induced with VP-16 or cycloheximide. CONCLUSION: This results suggest that the elements Zn, Fe and P should be involved in apoptosis induced by anti-cancer drugs.