Pathological features and immune microenvironment in HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneous breast cancers / 中华肿瘤杂志

Objective: To observe the clinical pathology features, and immune microenvironment of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneity breast cancer. Methods: Thirty cases of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneous breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from November 2017 to June 2020. HER-2 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry and verified by dual color silver-enhanced in-situ hybridization (D-SISH). HER-2 intratumoral positive and negative regions were divided. The pathological characteristics, subtype, and the level of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) were evaluated respectively. Results: The proportion of HER-2 positive cells of the breast cancer ranged from 10% to 90%. The pathological type was mainly invasive non-special typecarcinoma. Six cases presented different pathological types between HER-2 positive and negative regions. The HER-2-positive areas included 2 cases of carcinoma with apocrine differentiation, and the negative areas included 2 cases of invasive micropapillary carcinoma, 1 case of invasive papillary carcinoma, and 1 case of carcinoma with apocrine differentiation. In HER-2 positive regions, 17 cases were Luminal B and 13 cases were HER-2 overexpressed types. There were 22 cases of Luminal B and 8 cases of triple negative tumors in the HER-2 negative areas. The levels of TILs in HER-2 positive and negative areas accounted for 53.3% (16/30) and 26.7% (8/30), respectively, with a statistically significant difference (P=0.035). The positive expression of PD-L1 in HER-2 positive area and HER-2 negative area were 6 cases and 9 cases, respectively. Among 8 cases with HER-2 negative regions containing triple negative components, 4 cases were positive for PD-L1 expression. Conclusions: In the case of HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneity, it is necessary to pay attention to both HER-2 positive and negative regions, and evaluate subtype separately as far as possible. For HER-2 intratumoral heterogeneous breast cancer containing triple negative components, the treatment mode can be optimized by refining the intratumoral expression of PD-L1.

Advances in Acupuncture Mechanism Research on the Changes of Synaptic Plasticity: "Pain Memory" for Chronic Pain / 针刺研究

Previous studies have shown that there are many common structures between the neural network of pain and memory, and the main structure in the pain network is also part of the memory network. Chronic pain is characterized by recurrent attacks and is associated with persistent ectopic impulse, which causes changes in synaptic structure and function based on nerve activity. These changes may induce long-term potentiation of synaptic transmission, and ultimately lead to changes in the central nervous system to produce "pain memory". Acupuncture is an effective method in treating chronic pain. It has been proven that acupuncture can affect the spinal cord dorsal horn, hippocampus, cingulate gyrus and other related areas. The possible mechanisms of action include opioid-induced analgesia, activation of glial cells, and the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In this study, we systematically review the brain structures, stage of "pain memory" and the mechanisms of acupuncture on synaptic plasticity in chronic pain.

Effect of Modified Guipi Decoction on Blood Pressure and Quality of Life in Hypertension Patients Complicated Depression / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Modified Guipi Decoction (MGD) on blood pressure and quality of life (QOL) in hypertension patients complicated depression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 245 hypertension patients complicated depression were randomly assigned to the treatment group (125 cases, treated with MGD) and the control group (120 cases, treated with Sertraline). Final recruited qualified patients were 117 cases in the treatment group and 111 cases in the control group. The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. Changes of blood pressure, scores rated by Hamilton Depression Scale-17 (HAMD-17), Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA), short-form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36), and Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS) were observed before and after treatment, thereby judging their efficacies.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Compared with before treatment in the same group, systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly decreased in the treatment group after 2 weeks of treatment; systolic blood pressure significantly-decreased after 2 weeks of treatment and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased after 3 weeks of treatment in the control group (all P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Decreased valley values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures at week 2, 3, and 4 after treatment were obviously higher than those at week 1 after treatment in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the control group at week 4 after treatment, valley value of systolic blood pressure obviously decreased in the treatment group (P <0. 01). Decreased valley values of systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the treatment group were higher than those of the control group (P <0. 01). The success rate of target blood pressure was 60. 7% (71/117 cases) in the treatment group and 42. 3% (47/111 cases) in the control group, with statistical difference (χ² = 7.6781, P < 0.01). (2) Compared with before treatment in the same group, the score of HAMD-17 at week 2, 3, and 4 after treatment all decreased in the two groups (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, the score of HAMD-17 at week 4 after treatment decreased more obviously in the treatment group, with higher difference in decreased value (P < 0.05). The effective rate was 79.5% (93/117) in the treatment group, higher than that in the control group [66.7% (74/111); χ² = 4.7741, P < 0.05]. (3) Compared with before treatment in the same group, the score of HAMA at week 1, 2, 3, and 4 after treatment all obviously decreased in the two groups (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group, the score of HAMA at week 3 and 4 after treatment decreased more obviously in the treatment group, with higher difference in decreased value (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (4) After 4 weeks of treatment, except physical function in the control group, SF-36 total score and the score for each factor were obviously higher in the two groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). MGD showed superior effect in improving physical function, physical activity, overall health, emotion activity, and health changes to that of Sertraline (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (5) The incidence of insomnia, tremor, liability to agitation, dizziness was obviously less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MGD had favorable clinical effect on hypertension patients complicated depression. Meanwhile, it also could improve their blood pressure and QOL.</p>

Observation on therapeutic effect of myofascial pain syndrome of the back in the military soldiers treated with moxibustion / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To provide a set of the self-help and mutual-aid treatment with moxibustion to deal with myofasicial pain syndrome (MPS) of the back for the military soldiers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-eight cases were randomly devided into a moxibustion group (30 cases) and a plaster application group (28 cases). In the moxibustion group, the suspended moxibustion was applied to Yanglingquan (GB 34) for 15 min. The moxibustion massage device was used to massage the pain area. Under the physician's guides, the self-help or mutual-aid treatment was adopted. In the plaster application group, Goupi Gao (a black plaster used in TCM) was used on the local pain area. The treatment was given once every day in either group, lasting for 5 days. The clinical symptom scale, clinical physical sign scale, functional disturbance scale, functional disturbance index, comprehensive economic benefit and the others were adopted to analyze and compare the clinical efficacies between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both moxibustion and the plaster application achieved a certain efficacy on MPS of the back in the soldiers and either of them received the obvious improvements in the clinical symptoms, physical signs and functional disturbance (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The results in the moxibustion group were superior to those in the plaster application group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). In terms of the comprehensive economic benefit index, the result in the moxibustion group was better than that in the plaster application group. The total effective rate was 96.7% (29/30) in the moxibustion group and was 35.7% (10/28) in the plaster application group. The efficacy in the moxibustion group was superior to that in the plaster application group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The self-help or mutual-aid treatment with moxibustion achieves the satisfactory clinical efficacy on MPS of the back in the military soldiers. It reduces the conventional medical cost and the military medical expenditure. This therapeutic approach is suitable to be promoted in the military.</p>

Research progress of platelet proteomics - review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Human blood platelets play an important role in a variety of basic life processes, and are widely involved in various biological processes in the human body, including inflammation, wound healing and thrombosis etc. As unnuclear cell particles, platelets do not lend themselves to analysis by traditional cell and molecular biology techniques. In contrast, the study of proteomics and the protein complement of a genome will have a major impact on platelet biology. Moreover, platelet proteomics has been used to analyze a variety of complex biological processes in platelet proteome. This article will review the latest progress on platelet proteomics research, such as the proteomics and its related techniques, proteomics associated with platelets (static and activated platelet proteomics, platelet microparticle proteomics, platelet membrane proteomics, platelet phosphorylation proteomics) as well as platelet proteomics and diseases.

PSCA expression in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of breast / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expression of prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) at protein and mRNA levels in invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast (IMPC) and to analyze the relationship between PSCA expression and clinicopathologic features.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of PSCA protein was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (LSAB) in 66 cases of IMPC and 67 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma, not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS). The association between PSCA expression and clinicopathologic features was also analyzed in IMPC. Furthermore, RT-PCR was used to detect PSCA mRNA in 10 cases of primary IMPC and 10 cases of primary IDC-NOS with paired normal breast tissues, each from the same subject.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the overexpression of PSCA in 47 of 66 (71.2%) cases of IMPC and 35 of 67 (52.2%) IDC-NOS. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference of PSCA expression between IMPC and IDC-NOS (P = 0.024). In IMPC, the expression of PSCA was correlated with lymph nodes metastasis (P = 0.039). RT-PCR showed the mRNA level of PSCA was significantly higher in primary IMPC and IDC-NOS tissue than that in paired normal breast tissue (7/10 and 5/10, respectively), and it was also significantly higher in primary IMPC tissue than that in IDC-NOS tissue.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PSCA might play an important role in lymph node metastasis in IMPC.</p>

Association of HER2 genetic heterogeneity with clinicopathological characteristics in breast cancer / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To introduce the College of American Pathologists/American College of Medical Genetics Cytogenetics Resource Committee criteria for genetic heterogeneity (GH) in HER2 testing, and investigate the clinicopathological significance of HER2 genetic heterogeneity in invasive breast cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical parameters of 100 cases of invasive breast carcinomas were collected. HER2 expression level and HER2 gene copy number in formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tumor samples were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and the relationship between HER2 gene GH and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 100 patients, HER2 gene GH was observed in 20 (20%) cases. When the number of HER2 amplified cells was more than 25%, the frequencies of FISH positive were higher than those cases with less than 25% HER2 amplified cells. The results showed that HER2 gene GH was associated with the degree of HER2 protein expression (P=0.004), and ER expression (P=0.002).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HER2 gene GH may be correlated with the HER2 protein IHC 1+/2+, and ER expression in breast carcinoma. It is important for doctors to avoid ignoring or only counting FISH positive cells leading to incorrect diagnosis for these patients.</p>

Comparative study on treatment of somnipathy in patients with hypertension by traditional Chinese medicine and by estazolam / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating somnipathy in patients with hypertension, and to observe the change of blood pressure after sleep being improved.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with hypertension accompanied somnipathy were randomly assigned to two groups, 123 patients in the treated group were treated with TCM according to syndrome differentiation, and 116 in the control group treated with Estazolam. Changes of blood pressure, scores of sleep dysfunction rating scale (SDRS), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) before and after treatment were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TCM showed a significant effect on hypnagogic disturbance, and significantly reduced the scores of insomnia syndromes in early sleep stage, improve the quality of sleep, prolong the sleeping time to fulfill the physiological requirement, the total effective rate being 80.5% (99/123 cases), with the overall effect higher than that (66.4%, 77/116 cases) in the control group (P < 0.05). Along with the improving of sleep, blood pressure, both systolic and diastolic, reduced in both groups, but with the reduction in the treated group superior to that in the control group (P < 0.01), and the rate of reaching target BP (< 140/90 mmHg) in the former was also significantly higher than that in the latter (39.7%, 46/116 cases, P < 0.05). As compared with those in the control group, the occurence of adverse reaction, were less in the treated group (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>TCM has better efficacy in treating somnipathy of hypertension patients than Estazolam. And the improvement of somnipathy is favorable for improving the hypertensive condition of patient.</p>

Experimental studies of rhizoma Astilbes chinensis on its effects in abirritation, blood activation, cough relieving and sputum elimination / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of rhizoma Astilbes chinensis in abirritation, blood activation, cough relieving and sputum elimination.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The antalgic function of rhizoma A. chinensis was tested by hot-plate method and writhing reaction. The acute blood-stasis model rats were made by Injection of adrenaline hydrochloride along with stimulation by ice water. The effects of cough relieving and sputum elimination were observed by the ammonia water-induced tussive mice and excretion of phenol red in the airway of mice. The maximum tolerance dose of rhizoma A. chinensis was also determined during the acute toxicity test.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The data were analyzed for statistical significance by t-test, which shows that the decoction of rhizoma A. chinensis is significantly effective in reducing the frequency of licking behavior of mice on hot-plate and writhing response induced by acetic acid, improving the hemarheology of acute blood-stasis model rats, prolonging the latent period, reducing the frequency of cough induced byammonia, and in increasing the quantity of phenol red output from the trachea in mice. The result acute toxicity test shows that maximum tolerance dose of gastrogavage in mice was 400 g x kg(-1). Which was 666. 7 times of that clinically used for human.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rhizoma A. chinensis has the effects of abirritation, blood activation, cough relieving and sputum elimination, and is safe in clinical application.</p>

Follow-up study for newborns and infants who failed hearing screening / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the audiological characteristics of newborns and infants who failed hearing screening.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and six infants failed hearing screening received follow-up study with routine audiological evaluations (auditory brainstem response, distortion product otoacoustic emission, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-five infants (61.3%) of this group were normal hearing subjects and 39(36. 8% ) of the infants had hearing loss. Two cases (1.9%) received follow-up by phone. Fifteen cases (14.2%) with conductive hearing loss and 24 cases (22.6%) with sensorineural hearing loss. Thirteen (12.3%), 14 (13.2%), 6 (5.7%), and 6 (5.7%) cases were found to be mild, moderate, severe and profound hearing loss respectively. Diagnosis of hearing loss in the thirty-nine infants conducted a prevalence of 0.264% (39/14 785) of congenital hearing loss (both binaural and monaural). The hearing level of those cases with severe and profound hearing loss basically did not change, but that of cases with mild and moderate hearing loss changed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Early identification and intervention of infants with severe and profound hearing loss by 6 months of age were successful. Infants with mild and moderate hearing loss should be followed up to six or eight months and received routine audiologic evaluations.</p>