Notch1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its relation with microvascular angiogenesis / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe Notch1 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and investigate its relation with microvascular angiogenesis in the tumor.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tissue slices of 40 cases ESCC (cancer group) and 8 cases normal esophagus tissues (normal group) were obtained to analyze the expression of Notch1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) using immunohistochemistry and estimate the microvessel density (MVD) in the tumor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Notch1 expression was significantly lower in the cancer group than in the normal group (P<0.05). In the cancer group, Notch1 expression was higher in highly differentiated than in poorly differentiated tumors (P<0.05) regardless of tumor infiltration or lymph nodes metastasis (P>0.05). VEGF expression and MVD were significantly higher in cancer group than in normal group, and showed significant differences between tumors with different differentiation degrees, infiltration and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that Notch1 expression was inversely correlated to VEGF expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Notch1 may be an anti-oncogene in ESCC and affects cell differentiation in early stage of the malignancy. Abnormally low expression of Notch1 in ESCC may be one of the upstream factors to induce high expression of VEGF and increased MVD. The Notch1 pathway might play a key role in microvascular angiogenesis in ESCC.</p>

Video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy and transsternal extended thymectomy for treatment of myasthenia gravis: a case-control study / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the therapeutic effects of video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) and transsternal extended thymectomy (TET) for myasthenia gravis (MG).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>This study included 21 patients undergoing VATET through the "three holes" approach on the right chest and 32 undergoing TET with sternum dissection. The thymus was excised and the anterior mediastinum adipose tissue removed in both groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>VATET was associated with reduced intraoperative blood loss and longer operative time without the use of postoperative analgesics; very few patients were admitted into the intensive care unit (ICU), showing significant differences from the TET group (P<0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups in tracheal tube removal time, length of stay in ICU, closed thoracic drainage removal time, and postoperative hospital stay, total hospital stay, postoperative complications, total hospitalization costs, or the rate of remission and improvement (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Compared with TET, VATET requires only a small incision without leaving metal foreign body in the body, and the patients experience less postoperative pain and rapid recovery, with similar mid- and long-term clinical outcomes.</p>

Establishment and characterization of two new human embryonic stem cell lines, SYSU-1 and SYSU-2 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Human embryonic stem cells can propagate indefinitely in vitro and are able to differentiate into derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers. The excitement surrounding human embryonic stem cells lies largely in their potential to produce specialized cells that can be used for transplant therapies. However, further investigation requires additional cell lines with varying genetic background. Therefore, efforts to derive and establish more human embryonic stem cell lines are highly warranted.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Surplus embryos (blastocysts) from donors were used to isolate the inner cell mass by immunosurgery. All cells were cultured continuously on irradiated murine embryonic fibroblasts feed layer and likely human embryonic stem cell colonies were subsequently characterized by cell surface marker staining, karyotyping and teratoma formation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two human embryonic stem cell lines (SYSU-1 and SYSU-2) were established from surplus embryos. The two lines express several pluripotency markers including alkaline phosphatase, SSEA-4, Tra-1-60, Oct-4, Nanog and Rex-1. They remain in undifferentiated state with normal karyotype after prolonged passages and can form embryoid bodies in vitro and teratoma in vivo.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Two new human embryonic stem cell lines have been established from surplus embryos. They can be used to understand selfrenewal and differentiating mechanisms and provide more choices for regenerative medicine.</p>