Expression and significance of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the mechanism of expression and significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.@*METHODS@#Pathological sections collected from 156 patients with lumbar disc herniation after surgery were tested by immunohistochemistry method, for evaluation of the expression of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue.@*RESULTS@#98 cases (62.8%) with vascular infiltration phenomenon are found, and positive rates of VEGF and p53 in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue are 73.42% (116/156) and 58.97% (92/156); co-expression rate is 53.2%(83/156); the expression rates of VEFG and p53 are significantly higher in the tissue with blood vessel infiltration than in the tissue without infiltration; there is a close relationship of VEGF with p53.@*CONCLUSIONS@#VEGF and p53 gene synergetic express in degenerate intervertebral disc tissue, working together in neovascularization and infiltration, and accelerating intervertebral disc tissue degeneration.

Prediction of traumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head by single photon emission computerized tomography and computerized tomography: an experimental study in dogs / 中华创伤杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the femoral head perfusion and to predict the traumatic avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head by single photon emission computerized tomography and computerized tomography (SPECT/CT).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 18 adult beagle dogs were divided randomly into three equal-sized (n equal to 6) groups. Subsequently different degrees of ischemia model were developed by destroying blood vessels of the femoral head. The left hip received sham operation as normal control and the right hip underwent blood interruption. In Group A, the ligamentum teres was cut off. In Group B, the marrow cavity of the right femoral neck was destroyed while in Group C, the soft tissues at the base of the femoral neck were stripped in addition to the resection of the ligamentum teres and destruction of the marrow cavity. Three hours after surgery, SPECT/CT was performed. Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) measurements were also obtained at three different time points (before operation, immediately and three hours after operation) in order to assess the change process of blood supply to the femoral head.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SPECT/CT showed no significant difference in the radionuclide uptake between the right and left femoral heads in Group A (t equal to -0.09, P equal to 0.94) and Group B (t equal to 0.52, P equal to 0.62). However, in Group C, it was 261+/-62 for the right femoral head, only 12% of that in the left femoral head. LDF measurements indicated that the femoral head perfusion was decreased from (45.0+/-3.3) PU to (39.1+/-3.7) PU in Group A,from (44.0+/-2.7) PU to (34.3+/-2.6) PU in Group B, and from (47.3+/-2.1) PU to (4.96+/-0.6) PU in Group C immediately after operation. However, the perfusion was restored and returned to normal values three hours after operation except in Group C.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SPECT/CT could assess the perfusion of the femoral head semiquantitatively, which might be useful in predicting the development of traumatic AVN.</p>

Anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effect of phloretin / 药学学报

This study investigated the effect of phloretin (Ph) on the proliferation, activation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes and NO production and phagocytosis of macrophages. Carboxyfluorescein diacetatesuccinimidyl ester (CFDA-SE) staining plus flow cytometry assay was employed to obtain the proliferation-related index (PI) of lymphocytes. The expression levels of CD69 and CD25 on T lymphocytes stimulated with Con A were evaluated with flow cytometry after staining with fluorescent monoclonal antibody. Cell-cycle distribution of T lymphocytes was analyzed by propidium iodide staining. Griess kit was used to evaluate the NO production and fluorescent microbeads were used to analyze the phagocytosis ability of macrophages. Our results showed that phloretin (40, 60, and 80 micromol x L(-7)) significantly inhibited the proliferation of T lymphocytes and the PI reduced from 1.41 +/- 0.13 to 1.34 +/- 0.16, 1.19 +/- 0.12 and 1.07 +/- 0.06, respectively. Phloretin significantly inhibited the expression of CD69 and CD25 (P < 0.01). The cell cycle distribution analysis showed that phloretin could induce a cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. NO production of LPS +IFN-gamma group of macrophages was (26.72 +/- 3.57) micromol x L(-1), and was significantly reduced by phloretin (P < 0.01). And phagocytosis rate of macrophages was significantly reduced by phloretin (P < 0.01). The results demonstrate that phloretin might be developed into a new immuosuppressive drug.

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of kidney / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathological features and differential diagnoses of mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical and pathological characteristics of 4 cases of mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney were studied.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Three patients were female and one was male. All patients presented with flank pain and hematuria. Radiologic studies revealed cystic and solid masses involving the kidney. Grossly the tumors had a solid and cyst appearance. Microscopically, the tumors were composed of a mixture of stromal and epithelial elements. The epithelial elements were variable in cell types including cuboidal, hobnail and columnar cells. One case showed Müllerian and intestinal epithelial differentiations. Stromal elements essentially consisted of spindle cells, with thick-walled blood vessels and bands of smooth muscle cells as distinctive features of the tumor. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that the epithelial components were positive for AE1/AE3, whereas the stromal components were positive for ER, PR, and SMA. All patients underwent nephrectomy and were well without evidence of recurrence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney is a benign neoplasm with distinct histopathological features. It should be distinguished from many other renal neoplasms. Surgical intervention is a preferred therapy.</p>

Analysis of c-kit gene mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To define the frequency and spectrum of c-kit gene mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty two cases of GIST and 28 cases of other tumors were examined for mutations in exon 11, 9 and 13 of c-kit gene using PCR amplification and DNA sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fourteen out of 25 malignant GIST (56%), while 2 of 27 benign and borderline GIST (7.4%) revealed mutations in exon 11 of c-kit gene (P < 0.01). Most of the mutations consisted of in-frame deletion or replication from 3 to 48 bp in heterozygous and homozygous fashions, but none of the mutations disrupted the downstream reading frame of the gene. Point mutation and deletion concentrated at 550 - 570 codons but replication clustered within 570 - 585 codons. The mutation pattern in recurrence tissues was the same as the primary ones. Normal tissues adjacent to GIST with or without c-kit gene mutations showed wild type c-kit gene sequence. No mutation was found in exon 9 and 13. Neither c-kit gene expression nor gene mutations was found in 3 leiomyomas, 8 leiomyosarcomas, 2 schwannomas, 2 intra-abdomenal fibromitoses and 8 adenocarcinomas.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mutations in exon 11 of c-kit gene might partially represent one of the molecular mechanisms of GIST. It can be used as a marker for distinguishing benignancy and malignancy of GIST. The mutations did not involve the reading frame. Except for long frame deletion, most mutations also did not affect protein expression. Mutation of c-kit gene in GIST provides a new genotypic marker to distinguish GIST from authentic leiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, schwannomas and etc.</p>

Clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular genetic study of intra-abdomen extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the clinicopathological, immunohistochemical and molecular genetic features of intra-abdomen extra-gastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) and their differential diagnosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Nine cases of EGISTs from the abdominal cavity or retroperitoneum which were previously diagnosed as leiomyoma, leiomyoblastoma, or leiomyosarcoma etc. by a panel of antibodies such as CD117, CD34, alpha-SMA, MSA, desmin, S-100, and PGP9.5 from which five cases were detected for c-kit gene mutation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The tumors occurred in 5 men and 4 women, the age ranged from 38 to 72 years (mean 61.7 years). Four cases arose from the mesentery, two from omentum, two from retroperitoneum and one located at the hilus of the spleen. The size of tumors ranged from 5 cm to 23 cm (mean 12.9 cm) in diameter and the tumor cell components varied: mainly spindle cells (seven cases), epithelioid cells (one case), mixed cells (one case). Tumors expressed CD117 (8/9), CD34 (5/9), alpha-SMA (3/9), MSA (4/9), desmin (0), S-100 protein (1/9) and PGP9.5 (1/9). Of the five cases examined for heterozygous deletion mutation of 11 exon of the c-kit gene two were found positive. Two borderline cases showed long-term survival of 8 years and 11 years, respectively. In seven malignant cases, two showed adverse outcome, one survived 4 years without recurrence, two were lost in follow up and two new cases were still being in followed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>GIST-type stromal tumors can also occur in the abdomen, most cases were borderline or malignant, tumor coagulative necrosis, mitoses >or= 5 per 50 high-power fields and obvious nuclear atypia indicating malignancy. Differential diagnosis of EGIST including benign or malignant smooth muscle tumors, benign or malignant nerve sheath tumors etc.</p>