Clinicopathologic and Prognostic Significance of the Zinc Finger of the Cerebellum Family in Invasive Breast Cancer / 한국유방암학회지

PURPOSE: Five members of the zinc finger of the cerebellum (ZIC) family—ZIC1, ZIC2, ZIC3, ZIC4, and ZIC5—have been shown to be involved in various carcinomas. Here, we aimed to explore the clinicopathologic and prognostic roles of ZIC family members in invasive breast cancer patients using immunohistochemical analysis, western blotting analysis, and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). METHODS: A total of 241 female invasive breast cancer patients who underwent radical mastectomy between 2009 and 2011 were enrolled. ZIC proteins in 241 pairs of breast tumors and corresponding normal tissues were investigated using immunohistochemistry and the clinicopathologic roles of proteins were analyzed using Pearson's chi-square test. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were also used to analyze the prognostic value of the ZIC proteins. In addition, 12 pairs of fresh-frozen breast tumors and matched normal tissues were used in the western blotting analysis and RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Only ZIC1 expression in normal tissues was obviously higher than that in tumors (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, ZIC1 expression (in overall survival analysis: hazard ratio [HR], 0.405, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.233–0.702, p=0.001; in disease-free survival analysis: HR, 0.395, 95% CI, 0.234–0.669, p=0.001) was identified as a prognostic indicator of invasive breast cancer. CONCLUSION: ZIC1, but not the other proteins, was obviously decreased in breast tumors and associated with clinicopathologic factors. Thus, ZIC1 might be a novel indicator to predict the overall and disease-free survival of invasive breast cancer patients.

Roles of Th_1/Th_2 type cytokines in experimental autoimmune neuritis / 中华神经科杂志

Objective To establish the model of P2 peptide-induced experimental autoimmune neuritis(EAN)in rats and explore the roles of Th_1/Th_2 type eytokines in EAN.Methods Lewis rats were grouped into EAN rats and control rats.The EAN rats were immunized by injection into both hind footpads of inoculums containing 100 ?g or 200 ?g of P2_(57-81)peptide and FCA while the control rats were immunized with FCA only.Clinical scores were compared at the maximum of disease.Supernatant productions of IFN- ?, IL-4 and IL-10 secreted by lymphocytes and obtained on day 14 after the immunization were examined. Histopathological assessment of sciatic nerves was made.Results Peak clinical scores of P2_(57-81)200 ?g (3.6?0.3)group were significantly higher than P2_(57-81)100 ?g group(2.2?0.6,P

Mechanism of cellular immunity accommodation in prophylactic effects of nasal tolerance with dual analogue on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis in Lewis rats / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the mechanism of prophylactic effects of nasal tolerance with a dual analogue (Lys262-Ala207) on experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical and immunological changes were observed in Lewis rats administered with dual analogue Lys262-Ala207 nasally, to compare the effects between the rats with predetermined dosage of Lys262-Ala207 and control peptides at two different time points, before the day (Group A or C) or on the day (Group B or D) of immunization with acetylcholine receptor (AChR) in complete Freud's adjuvant for 10 consecutive days. The clinical scores was evaluated for 50 days post immunization. Numbers of MNC expressing IFN-gamma, IL-4 or IL-10 and CD4+ and/or CD25+ from lymph nodes were enumerated by flow cytometry. Proliferative response, expressed as stimulation index (SI), was suppressed in response to antigen-specific stimulation in the rats receiving dual analogue, as compared with the rats receiving saline buffer only.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Group A and group B of Lewis rats developed EAMG with reduced severity, as compared to the control groups. Number of cells synthesizing IFN-gamma, IL-4 or IL-10 decreased, whereas numbers of CD4+CD25+ cells increased in group A and B than those in the control groups. Proliferative response was suppressed in response to antigen-specific stimulations in the rats receiving dual analogue Lys262-Ala207.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Nasal administration with a dual analogue Lys262-Ala207 at two different time points, before the day and on the day of immunization, could delay symptoms of muscular weakness in EAMG rats, which was associated with suppression of immune function in AChR antigen-specific T cells and lay a scientific foundation for treatment of human MG with nasal dual analogue.</p>

Minimizing the antigenicity of tracheal allografts by using a technique of cryopreservation / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the proper time of cryo-preserving tracheal allograft so as to minimize its antigenicity.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On a dog model, this study was carried out by allografting a tracheal into a muscular flap formed with sternocephalic muscle and sternohyoid--sternothyroid muscle. The tracheal was treated with cryopreservation in defferent intervals. The viability of the graft was evaluated by the examination of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, histopathology and microangiography. The blood flow of the tracheal mucous was measured with a blood flowmeter and the survival area was decided in the calculation of the percentage.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There are no significant differences in the mucous membrane appearance and the mucosal blood flow one week after the surgery among the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. The graft was found to start necrosis 2 weeks after the transplantation with the infiltration of mononuclear cells examined under light microscope in almost all of the groups, especially in the non-cryopreservation group and the groups treated with cryopreservation in 1 day, 2 weeks. However, there was no significant difference among the autograft group and the allograft groups cryopreservated in 6 weeks and 8 weeks, and the infiltration of the mononuclear cells was not found in these groups either.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The antigenicity of the tracheal allografts could be significantly decreased by the treatment of cryopreservation over 6 weeks.</p>

The investigation of tracheas transplantation by wrapping in a muscle flap / 中华整形外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possibility of tracheas transplantation by wrapping it in a muscle flap.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With a dog model, a number of tracheas were separately wrapped in the unilateral sternocephalic muscle flap and the bilateral sternohyoid-sternothyroid muscle flap, and placed in the original site. The tracheas autografting was used as a control. The viability was evaluated by the examination of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, histopathology and microangiography, the measurement of tracheal mucosal blood flow and the calculation of survival rate and percentage of patency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The submucosal blood flow of the transplanted tracheas was detected in the unilateral sternocephalic muscle flap group and the bilateral sternohyoid-sternothyroid muscle flap group 1 week after the surgery and gradually reached the level close to the normal in 4 weeks, while the vascular ingrowth was also shown from the wrapped muscle flap into the transplanted tracheas by using a microangiography technique. The histopathological examination demonstrated that the structure of the transplanted tracheas was quite same as the original one and its inner surface was also covered with pseudostratified columnar ciliary epithelia. However, in the control group, the mucous membranes turned black one week after the transplantation and all dogs died from the graft necrosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The tracheas wrapped in a muscular flap could survive well for a long time.</p>