BRAF gene mutations in ameloblastic fibromas / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the BRAF gene mutations in ameloblastic fibroma (AF), and to further analyze the relationship between the BRAF mutation and clinical characteristics so as to provide new reference to the study of AF's molecular pathology.@*METHODS@#Sixteen cases diagnosed as AF at the Department of Oral Pathology, Peking University School of Stomatology between January 1990 and December 2017 were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Germany) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencings were used to detect the BRAF gene mutations. The clinicopathological data, such as the age, location of the lesion, symptoms and treatments were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The sixteen cases of AF involved nine women and seven men aged 2-67 years. Three lesions occurred in the maxilla and thirteen in the mandible. The most common presenting symptom of AF was a painless slowly enlarging mass with swelling. Ten patients received conservative treatment and the other six patients received radical surgery. Three cases relapsed during the study period. BRAF gene mutation was found in sixteen of all the sixteen samples analyzed (100%). The BRAF mutation was a point mutation with a thymine-adenine transversion at nucleotide 1 799 of 15 exons, resulting in a change at residue 600 that substituted glutamine for valine. This mutation was the strongest activator of the downstream RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK-MAPK signaling pathway. This helped to bring about a gain-of-function mutation due to a V600E substitution. Many studies identified that BRAF regulated survival, apoptosis, and proliferation of cells by inducing MAPK pathways activation. For the existing cases, none of the age, sex, location, recurrence and treatments had a statistically significant correlation with BRAF mutation.@*CONCLUSION@#Our findings demonstrated high prevalence of BRAF V600E mutation in AF. The pathogenic role remains to be clarified．.

Research advances in the v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog gene mutation in ameloblastoma / 中华口腔医学杂志

V-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) is a pro-oncogene, which is one member of the RAF family. Mutated BRAF is found in approximately 8% of human tumors. BRAF gene mutations lead to continuous activation of the mitogen-activatd protein kinase (MAPK) pathway, which resulting in abnormal cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In recent years, recurrent MAPK signaling mutations were identified in ameloblastoma, among which BRAF-V600E is the most prominent type. This provides new strategies for the targeted treatment of ameloblastoma. This paper reviewed the latest advances in BRAF gene mutation associated with ameloblastoma and its potential clinical significance.

Analysis on clinical palpation laws of muscle meridian focus in scapulohumeral periarthritis / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the distribution rules of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian region in scapulohumeral periarthritis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Three hundred and six shoulder joints of affected side were selected in 216 patients of scapulohumeral periarthritis. Under the guidance of muscle meridian theory, with the anatomical characteristics of muscle meridian focuses, the frequency and location where proximal and distal focus appeared were calculated by palpation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian of Hand-Yangming, Hand-Shaoyang, Hand-Taiyang, and three yin meridians of hand appeared at proximal points of shoulder joint were 25.6% (1 146/5 657), 30.9% (1 749/5 657), 19.0% (1 075/5 657), and 24.5% (1 387/5 657), respectively, the focuses of muscle meridian region were Jianyuci, Juguci, Xiaoshuoci, Naohuici, etc. The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian region appeared at distal points of shoulder joint were 31.77% (287/905), 23.2% (210/905), 10.9% (99/905), and 34.1% (304/905), the focuses of muscle meridian were Yangxici, Shousanlici, Yangchici, etc.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The location and frequency of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian in scapulohumeral periarthritis are closely related with the anatomical structure and biomechanical characteristics of the shoulder joints, thus new therapy for scapulohumeral periarthritis is implied.</p>

The effect of adipose-derived stem cells on viability of random pattern skin flap in rabbits / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of the adipose derived stem cells (ADSCs) on the survival of random pattern skin flap in rabbits.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>ADSCs were isolated from fresh human fat and expanded in vitro for five passages. Then the characterization of ADSCs were determined by their CD marker profile and their ability to differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages. On the back of the rabbits, two symmetric cephalic-based random pattern skin flaps were designed (6 cm x 2 cm). The right flaps were used as experimental groups with the contra-side flaps as control group. Human ADSCs were pre-labeled before seeding with fluorescent 3, 30-dioctadecyloxacarbocyanine perchlorate (DiO) dye. The experimental flaps evenly received 5-point injection of 2 x 10(6)Dio-labeled ADSCs resuspended in 0.5 ml of serum-free DMEM, while only 0.5 ml medium was injected into the control flaps. Seven days later, the survival rate of flaps was evaluated. The flaps underwent frozen section and were observed under the laser scanning confocal microscope to detect the fluorescence imaging. Flaps also underwent HE staining and were observed under light microscope to detect the vascular density.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with control group, there was a significant increase of flap survival rate in the experimental group (P < 0.01). Histological analysis also demonstrated a statistically significant increase in capillary density in the experimental group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It suggests that ADSCs have a better immune compatibility and potential for enhancing the blood supply of random pattern skin flaps.</p>