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Objective:To investigate clinical and histopathological features and differential diagnostic considerations of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) .Methods:A retrospective study was carried out on clinical manifestations, histopathological and immunohistochemical features, treatment and prognosis of 8 patients with MEC, who were collected from Department of Pathology, Hospital of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College during 2018 - 2021.Results:Among the 8 patients, 5 were males and 3 were females, and their age at onset ranged from 19 to 67 years. Skin lesions were located on the lip mucosa in 5 cases, on the cheek in 2 cases, and on the nose in 1 case. Tumors were all located in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue, parts of which were connected to the epidermis; different proportions of mucous cells, epidermoid cells and intermediate cells were arranged in nests or clumps, and formed solid or cystic structures accompanied by varying degrees of formation of ducts and mucus lakes; all epidermoid cells and intermediate cells expressed cytokeratins AE1/AE3, CK5/6, P63, carcinoembryonic antigen and epithelial membrane antigen. According to the current Chinese grading system, 1 of the 8 patients was diagnosed with intermediate-grade MEC, and others were diagnosed with low-grade MEC. No abnormalities were found by systemic examination. All patients received surgical resections. After the follow-up of 12 - 36 months, no recurrence or distant metastasis was observed.Conclusion:MEC presents no characteristic clinical manifestations, its diagnosis mainly depends on histopathological features, and mucus in the cytoplasm of mucous cells as shown by alcian blue staining is specific for MEC.
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BACKGROUND@#Finding an optimal treatment strategy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients remains challenging because of its intrinsic complexity. For mild to moderate scoliosis patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3-5), most clinicians agree with observation treatment; however, the curve progression that occurs during puberty, the adolescent period, and even in adulthood, remains a challenging issue for clinicians. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of Schroth exercise in AIS patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3-5) and moderate scoliosis (Cobb angle 20°-40°).@*METHODS@#From 2015 to 2017, data of 64 patients diagnosed with AIS in Peking University Third Hospital were reviewed. Forty-three patients underwent Schroth exercise were classified as Schroth group, and 21 patients underwent observation were classified as observation group. Outcomes were measured by health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and radiographic parameters. HRQOL was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back, Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) patient questionnaire. Radiographic spinopelvic parameters were obtained from anteroposterior and lateral X-rays. The pre-treatment and post-treatment HRQOL and radiographic parameters were tested to validate Schroth exercise efficacy. The inter-rater reliability of the radiographic parameters was tested using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The paired t test was used to examine HRQOL and radiographic parameters. Clinical relevance between C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and thoracic kyphosis was analyzed using Spearman correlation.@*RESULTS@#In Schroth group, VAS back score, SRS-22 pain, and SRS-22 self-image domain were significantly improved from pre-treatment 3.0 ± 0.8, 3.6 ± 0.5, and 3.5 ± 0.7 to post-treatment 1.6 ± 0.6 (t = 5.578, P = 0.013), 4.0 ± 0.3 (t = -3.918, P = 0.001), and 3.7 ± 0.4 (t = -6.468, P < 0.001), respectively. No significant improvements of SRS-22 function domain (t = -2.825, P = 0.088) and mental health domain (t = -3.174, P = 0.061) were observed. The mean Cobb angle decreased from 28.9 ± 5.5° to 26.3 ± 5.2° at the final follow-up, despite no statistical significance was observed (t = 1.853, P = 0.102). The mean C2-C7 SVA value decreased from 21.7 ± 8.4 mm to 17.0 ± 8.0 mm (t = -1.224 P = 0.049) and mean T1 tilt decreased from 4.9 ± 4.2 ° to 3.5 ± 3.1° (t = 2.913, P = 0.011). No significant improvement of radiographic parameters and HRQOL were observed in observation group.@*CONCLUSIONS@#For AIS patients with a Risser 3-5 and a Cobb angle 20°-40°, Schroth exercises improved HRQOL and halted curve progression during the follow-up period. Both cervical spine alignment and shoulder balance were also significantly improved after Schroth exercises. We recommend Schroth exercises for patients with AIS.
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Adolescent , Adult , Humans , Cervical Vertebrae , Kyphosis , Lordosis , Quality of Life , Reproducibility of Results , Retrospective Studies , Scoliosis/therapy , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Phytoestrogens exhibit various pharmacological estrogen-like effects, such as in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases, tumors, etc., but the specific mechanism is still unclear. In recent years, estrogen receptor alpha-mediated rapid non-genomic effects have been identified to play an important role in the pathogenesis of estrogen-related diseases. The research of phytoestrogens exerting pharmacological effects through non-genomic effects has also received increasing attention. This article summarizes the research progress in estrogen receptor alpha-mediated non-genomic effects and analyzes the possible involvement of rapid non-genomic effects in certain pharmacological effects of phytoestrogens. The future prospects of estrogen receptor-mediated non-genomic effects by phytoestrogens are also discussed.
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Cardiotoxicity is one of the main causes of failure in new drug development or drug withdrawal from the market. However, current methods for evaluation of drug cardiotoxicity suffer the shortcomings such as low clinical relevance, low reproducibility and lack of high throughput screening capacity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for establishing more accurate and reliable methods for cardiotoxicity evaluation of drugs. As a new generation of drug cardiotoxicity evaluation, cardiac organs in culture retain the biological characteristics and functions of heart cells in the body, and can realistically and accurately respond to the effects of drugs. This article reviews recent progress of in vitro culture of cardiac organs and 3D-cell models, with focuses on application and development potential of cardiac organs for evaluation of cardiotoxicity of traditional Chinese medicine. The advantage and future prospective of such cell- and organ-based models for unique challenges in evaluation of cardiotoxicity of traditional Chinese medicine have been discussed.
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Cinobufacini is an extract from skin of Bufo gargarizans, and composed of bufadienolides, peptides, alkaloids and cholesterol. With the deepening of research of its pharmacological effect, it has been proved that cinobufacini has important application value in anti-inflammation, anti-virus, anti-tumor, as well as swelling and pain relief. In recent years, more attention has been given to its anti-tumor activity. The molecular pharmacology studies showed that cinobufacini plays an important role on anti-tumor by enhancing the immunity, inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells, inducing the apoptosis of tumor cells, reversing multidrug resistance of tumor cells, and inhibiting the tumor angiogenesis. Both intrinsic pathway mediated by mitochondria and extrinsic pathway mediated by death receptor are involved in cinobufacini-induced apoptosis. Clinical studies have shown that cinobufacini is broadly used as an anti-tumor traditional Chinese medicine, due to its advantages of low toxicity, less side effects, and wide anticancer spectrum. It is broadly used in the treatment of liver cancer, gastric carcinoma, lung cancer, colon cancer, esophageal carcinoma, carcinoma of gallbladder, and non-Hodgkinlymphoma. Either single or combined application plays an active role in improving the efficacy and reducing side effects. To promote the research of anti-tumor activity of cinobufacini, and expand its application prospects, this review focuses on anti-tumor mechanism and clinical application of cinobufacini.
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Neural stem cells (NSCs) have the potential of self-renewing and differentiation into neurons,astrocyte,as well as oligodentrocyte.Nowadays,neurogenesis and NSCs transplantation have become new strategies for the treatment of nervous system diseases.However,the disadvantages of NSCs transplantation also limit their progress,including low survival rate,difficulty in differentiation,tumorigenesis and difficulty in penetrating scar tissues.It is a novel issue on how to regulate the proliferation and differentiation of endogenous NSCs in adult neurogenesis.Drug-induced endogenous NSCs proliferation and differentiation is the potential strategy for the regenerative medicine,repairing damaged nerves and treating central nervous system diseases.As a traditional medicine in China,Chinese medicine has the characteristics of multi-target,multi-link and multi-channel treatment,and has unique advantages and broad prospects in promoting nerve regeneration.More and more studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicine could indirectly or directly regulate the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs through extracellular signaling pathways (such as Notch,Wnt/β-catenin,the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway),intracellular transcription factors,together with changing the microenvironment (neurotrophic factor BNDF).In this review,we focus on the traditional Chinese medicine formulae,Chinese patent medicine,single medicine,as well as their monomers,which regulate the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs,so as to provide a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of central nervous system diseases by traditional Chinese medicine.
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Objective: To study the effect of picroside Ⅱ on the expression of microRNA-1 (miR-1) in the H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes damage, in order to explore the mechanism of picroside Ⅱ in protecting H9c2 cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress. Method: H9c2 cardiomyocytes were divided into 6 groups:control group, model group (H2O2 200 μmol·L-1), picroside Ⅱ (50, 100, 200 μmol·L-1)+H2O2 (200 μmol·L-1) group and picroside Ⅱ (200 μmol·L-1) group. Picroside Ⅱ group was incubated with picroside Ⅱ for 6 h and then cultured with H2O2 for 2 h. At the end of drugs treatment, the cell viability and the cellular damage of cardiomyocytes were respectively assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase-3 (Caspase-3) test were used to evaluate cell apoptosis. The mRNA expressions of Caspase-3,B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and miR-1 were measured by Real-time polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The protein expression of Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. Result:Compared with the control group, H2O2 could significantly decrease the cell viability and increase the rate of apoptosis, up-regulate mRNA expression of Caspase-3 and miR-1, and down-regulate expression of Bcl-2 in H9c2 cells (PPPPPPPConclusion:Picroside Ⅱ has a protective effect on H9c2 cells from H2O2-induced cardiomyocyte injury by down-regulating mRNA-1 expression and up-regulating the expression of the downstream Bcl-2.
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Objective To explore the difference in pain threshold between related acupoints and the specificity of acupoints in cholecystitis patients.Method Actual measurement was made in 80cases, a normal group of 30 cases (volunteers without psychological and physiological diseases) and a patient group of 50 cases (volunteers with cholecystitis). The probe of an algometer was perpendicularly placed on the selected acupoint, the pressure point was pushed and pressing was stopped immediately after the subject felt pain. The pain thresholds displayed by the measured acupoints were recorded. The pain thresholds of the selected acupoints were compared between the normal and patient groups and thedifferences were analyzed to explore the specificity of acupoints.Result A comparison of the pain thresholds of the Back-Shu points of the Bladder Meridian of Foot-Taiyang between the patient and normal groups showed that there were no significant differences in the thresholds of the left Back-Shu points Geshu (BL17), Ganshu (BL18), Danshu (BL19), Pishu (BL20), Weishu (BL21) and Dachangshu (BL25) of the bladder meridian between the two groups (P>0.05) and there were significant differences in the thresholds of the right Back-Shu points Geshu, Ganshu, Danshu, Pishu, Weishu and Dachangshu of the bladder meridian between the two groups (P0.05). The pain thresholdwas significantly lower in thepatient group than in the normal group. There were no significant differences in thethresholds of the left points Liangmen, Riyue, Qimen and Taichong of the Liver Meridian of Foot-Jueyin, the Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang and the stomach meridian between the patient and normal groups (P>0.05).Conclusion The pain sensitivity of ipsilaterali related acupoints increase and the relative specificity of acupoints exist in cholecystitis patients.
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<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Sepsis is one of the main causes of mortality in critically ill patients following progression to septic shock. To investigate the pathophysiologic changes of sepsis, we developed a novel porcine model of septic shock induced by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) pneumonia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-six male Landraces (Lvyuanweiye, Beijing, China) weighing 30 ± 2 kg were divided into four groups: sham group (SH; n = 5); cotton smoke inhalation group (SM; n = 6); MRSA pneumonia group (MR; n = 6); and septic shock group with cotton smoke inhalation + MRSA pneumonia (SS; n = 9). Extensive hemodynamics, oxygen dynamics, and lung function were monitored for 24 h following the injury or until death. Tissues were collected, and histopathology evaluations were carried out.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Blood cultures from 6 of 9 animals in the SS group were positive for MRSA. Two hours following the injury, decreased mean arterial blood pressure (60-70 mmHg) and cardiac index (<2 L.min-1.m-2) were observed in the animals in the SS group, while systemic vascular resistance index was increased. The hemodynamic characteristics of septic shock were only observed in the SS group but not significant in the other groups. The PO2/FiO2in the SM and SS groups decreased to 300 and 100, respectively. In the SS group, extravascular lung water index increased to 20 ml/kg, whereas thoracopulmonary compliance decreased to 10 ml/H2O after injury. Deterioration of pulmonary function in the SS group was more serious than the SM and MR groups. Severe lung injury in the SS group was confirmed by the histopathology evaluations. The lung injury confirmed by high-resolution thin-section computed tomography and histopathology in the SS group was more serious than those of other groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the present study, we developed a novel porcine model of septic shock induced by ARDS due to severe MRSA pneumonia with characteristic hyperdynamic and hypodynamic phases in 24 h, which mimicked the hemodynamic changing of septic shock in human.</p>
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Animals , Male , Disease Models, Animal , Hemodynamics , Physiology , Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus , Virulence , Pneumonia , Microbiology , Pathology , Respiratory Distress Syndrome , Pathology , Shock, Septic , Pathology , SwineABSTRACT
Aim Toclarifytheeffectofacteosideon proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs ) from adult mice,as well as the involved signaling pathway.Meth-ods NSCswereisolatedfromthesubventricularzone (SVZ)of adult C57BL/6 mice,then identified by im-munofluorescence staining with Nestin,the marker of NSCs.NSCs were exposed to acteoside (5,10,20,40μmol·L-1 )in absence of mitogen(EGF/bFGF)for 24 h.We employed CCK8 assay to detect NSCs viability and BrdU staining to identify NSCs proliferation.We performed Western blot to quantify the expression level ofp-AktinducedbyacteosideonNSCs.Results With-out mitogen,acteoside increased NSCs proliferation by activating p-Akt,which can be blocked by LY294002, the inhibitor of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.Conclu-sion ActeosidepromotestheproliferationofNSCsfrom adult mice by activating PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Purpose To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of giant cell angioblastoma ( GCAB) presenting primarily in the bone. The differential diagnosis is discussed. Methods The clinical, radiological and histopathological profiles in three cases of bony GCAB were reviewed. Results The tumor occurred in two adult females and one boy. The lesion involved the second vertebrae, left distal femur and 3rd to 5th left metacarpal bones in one case each. Clinically, all three patients presented with bone pain. Two patients were accompanied with restricted mobility. Radiological examination showed bone destruction with involvement of adjacent soft tissue in two cases. Histologically, the tumor was composed of irregular angiomatoid nodules which showed striking plexiform architecture. On high power, the nodules were composed of small vessels surrounded by proliferative oval-to-spindled pericytes which showed concentric aggregation around the vascular channels. The hallmark of the lesion was the presence of multinucleated osteoclast-like giant cells scat-tered within the nodules. By immunohistochemistry, the endothelial cells were positive for CD31 and CD34, whereas the surrounding pericytes were positive for alpha smooth muscle actin and vimentin. CD68 staining highlighted the osteoclast-like giant cells. Conclu-sions GCAB is a distinctive vascular tumor of intermediate malignancy characterize by local aggressiveness. On rare occasions, GCAB may occur in adult patients and manifest as primary bone lesions. Awareness of its characteristic features will help in the distinction from a variety of disease including granulomatous lesions, plexiform fibrous histiocytoma, tufted hemangioma and Kaposiform heman-gioendothelioma.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the functional brain localization with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after acupuncturing the Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (ST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The study was performed in 30 healthy volunteers who underwent acupuncture at Yuan-Source acupoint (Chongyang, ST42) and He-Sea acupoint (Zusanli, ST36) (ST group). Ten of these were also underwent acupuncture at the non-acupoints as the control group. Blood oxygenation level dependent functional MRI was performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the ST group, signal increasing areas were demonstrated in bilateral superior temporal gyri (Broadmann 22), bilateral supramarginal gyri (Broadmann 40), bilateral cerebellar hemispheres, bilateral cingulate gyri and isthmus of cingulate gyri (Broadmann 32, 30), bilateral superior parietal lobules (Broadmann 7); signal decreasing areas were shown in bilateral orbital gyri (Broadmann 11), bilateral temporal pole (Broadmann 38), right inferior frontal gyrus (Broadmann 47) and right medial occipitotemporal gyrus (Broadmann 36). In the control group, signal increases areas were demonstrated in superior temporal gyri, precentral gyri, cingulate gyri, thalamus, insula and cerebellum. The size, signal intensity and number of increasing areas in control group are less than in ST group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Combined acupuncture of Yuan-Source and He-Sea acupoints of ST can activate and decrease the multiple brain regions of "splanchnic brain" and thus reach a new functional balance to relieve pain.</p>