Changes of HER2 low expression status in primary and recurrent/metastatic breast cancer / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the evolution and clinical significance of HER2 low expression status in HER2 negative patients in primary and recurrent/metastatic breast cancers. Methods: The data and archived sections of 259 breast cancer patients with recurrence/metastasis and HER2-negative primary foci were collected from January 2015 to January 2022 at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, and the HER2 status of primary and recurrence/metastasis foci was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), among which IHC 2+patients were subject to fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The HER2 status was classified as HER2-0 group; patients with IHC 1+, IHC 2+and no FISH amplification were classified as HER2 low expression group; and patients with IHC 3+, IHC 2+and FISH amplified were classified as HER2-positive group. The changes of HER2 status in patients with HER2 low expression in primary versus recurrent/metastatic breast cancer foci were compared, and their clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis were analyzed. Results: The overall concordance rate between primary and recurrent/metastatic HER2 status in breast cancer was 60.6% (157/259, κ=0.178). A total of 102 patients (102/259, 39.4%) had inconsistent primary and recurrent/metastatic HER2 status; 37 patients (37/259, 14.3%) had HER2-0 at the primary foci and HER2-low expression at the recurrent/metastatic; and 56 patients (56/259, 21.6%) had HER2-low expression in the primary foci and HER2-0 in the recurrent/metastatic. The recurrent/metastatic foci became low-expressing compared with the recurrent/metastatic foci which remained HER2-0 patients, with longer overall survival time, higher ER and PR positivity, lower Ki-67 positivity index, and lower tumor histological grade; all with statistically significant differences (all P<0.05). In the primary HER2-low group, patients with recurrent/metastatic foci became HER2-0 while those with recurrent/metastatic foci remained low expression; there were no statistically significant differences in clinicopathological features and overall survival time (all P>0.05). Conclusions: Unstable HER2 status in patients with HER2-0 and low expression in primary versus recurrent/metastatic breast cancer foci, and HER2-0 in the primary foci but low HER2 expression status in recurrence/metastasis is associated with favourable prognosis, and testing HER2 status in recurrence/metastasis can provide more treatment options for such patients.

Comparison of Liver Transplantation and Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients with Portal Vein Tumor Thrombus Type I and Type II

Purpose@#The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of liver transplantation (LT) and liver resection (LR) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and to investigate risk factors affecting prognosis. @*Materials and Methods@#A total of 94 HCC patients with PVTT type I (segmental PVTT) and PVTT type II (lobar PVTT) were involved and divided into LR (n=47) and LT groups (n=47). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared before and after inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). Prognostic factors for RFS and OS were explored. @*Results@#Two treatment groups were well-balanced using IPTW. In the entire cohort, LT provided a better prognosis than LR. Among patients with PVTT type I, RFS was better with LT (p=0.039); OS was not different significantly between LT and LR (p=0.093). In subgroup analysis of PVTT type I patients with α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels >200 ng/mL, LT elicited significantly longer median RFS (18.0 months vs. 2.1 months, p=0.022) and relatively longer median OS time (23.6 months vs. 9.8 months, p=0.065). Among patients with PVTT type II, no significant differences in RFS and OS were found between LT and LR (p=0.115 and 0.335, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed treatment allocation (LR), tumor size (>5 cm), AFP and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels to be risk factors of RFS and treatment allocation (LR), AFP and AST as risk factors for OS. @*Conclusion@#LT appeared to afford a better prognosis for HCC with PVTT type I than LR, especially in patients with AFP levels >200 ng/mL.

Association of depression with dietary fatty acids and the progress of mechanism research / 药学学报

Depression is one of the diseases with the highest disability rate in the world. A large number of studies have shown that the intake of unsaturated fatty acids can deal with depression while chronic overconsumption of saturated fatty acids is a risk factor for depression. It was suggested that the mechanism of saturated fatty acids inducing depression is related to the following four aspects: regulating the function which links to depression in whole brain and specific brain regions, including the hippocampus, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the striatum, and the prefrontal cortex; stimulating the secretion of inflammatory factors; affecting the balance and function of metabolic regulatory hormones, including leptin, adiponectin, glucocorticoid, and insulin; inducing the disturbance of intestinal flora. This article reviews the relationship between dietary fatty acids and depression, and the possible mechanisms by which saturated fatty acids induce depression from the four aspects mentioned above.

Construction of transgenic mice with specific Cre recombinase expression in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex / 生理学报

The adrenal gland is an important endocrine organ of human body. CYP11B1 gene was specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex. In order to better study the function of genes specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex, the mice with Cre recombinase specifically expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex were constructed. It was then confirmed that CYP11B1 was specifically expressed in adrenal glands. Then, using CRISPR/Cas9 technique, CYP11B1-2A-GfpCre recombinant vector was constructed and subsequently injected into the fertilized eggs of mice. It was confirmed that the Cre gene was mainly expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex of CYP11B1Cre mice by using mTmG and LacZ staining. The CYP11B1Cre mice were then mated with cystathionine γ-lyase (CTH) mice, thereby generating CTH/CYP11B1Cre mice. It was also confirmed that CTH gene in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex was specifically knocked out in these mice. These results suggest that transgenic mice with specific Cre recombinase expression in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex were constructed successfully. This animal model can be a powerful tool for the study of the function of genes expressed in the zona fasciculata in adrenal cortex.

Follow-up Results and Clinical Significance of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Combined with Fluorescence Microscopy in Resection of High Grade Supra-tentoria Gliomas / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To investigate the clinical effectiveness of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) combined with sodium fluorescein(FL) in the treatment of high grade gliomas(HGG). Methods From August 2013 to 2015 November,the clinical data of 72 supratentorial HGG(WHO grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ) patients who had received surgical treatment in our hospital were retrospectively studied,among whom 43 cases received MRS combined with intra-perative FL navigation(observation group),and 29 cases only received conventional surgery(control group). Post-operative radiotherapy and chemotherapy were applied for more than 3 months. Routine enhanced MRI were performed 24-48 hours after the operation to investigate the extent of tumor resection. Six months after the operation,the quality of life of patients was evaluated by using the Karnofsky score,and 1-year postoperative survival rate and progression-free survival(PFS) were observed. Results Postoperative MRI showed that the rate of gross total resection(GTR) in observation group was significantly higher than that in control group(72.09%vs.51.72%;χ=23.88,P=0.001),and the GTR rate of WHO grade Ⅳ tumors was significantly higher than that of WHO grade Ⅲ tumors in observation group(92.86% vs.62.07%;χ=6.06,P=0.042). The postoperative Karnofsky score in the observation group was significantly higher than that in control group(μ=2.34,P=0.021). The mean time of follow-up was(16.4±2.4) months(8-21 months) and there was no statistical significant difference between observation group and control group in 1-year survival rate(74.07% vs.77.50%;χ=4.90,P=0.165) and PFS [(13.2±1.2) months vs.(12.7±2.0) months;χ=7.26,P=0.067]. In observation group,the PFS of WHO grade Ⅳ patients was significantly higher than that in control group [(14.2±0.3) months vs.(10.0±1.1) months;χ=11.03,P=0.031]. There was also no statistical significant difference between WHO grade Ⅳ tumors in two groups in terms of 1-year survival rate(71.43% vs.72.54%;χ=5.33,P=0.089),and there was no statistical significant difference between WHO grade Ⅲ tumors in two groups in 1-year survival rate(75.86% vs. 72.22%;χ=3.78,P=0.250) and in PFS [(13.7±1.4) months vs.(12.4±0.8) months;χ=4.85,P=0.083]. Conclusions MRS combined with intraoperative FL navigation technology can improve the resection rate and improve survival quality of patients,and there is no evidence that MRS combined with intraoperative FL navigation prolong the overall survival of patients with high-grade gliomas. Different outcome may be found with longer follow-up and increased simple size.

Development and research advances of iridoids from Valeriana jatamansi and their bioactivity / 中国中药杂志

Valeriana jatamansi (syn. V. wallichii), a traditional Chinese medicine recorded in Chinese Pharmacopeia (1977 and 2010 edition), has been used for treatment of a variety of conditions including sleep problems, obesity, nervous disorders, epilepsy, insanity, snake poisoning, eye trouble, and skin diseases. Also, it was used as an important substitute for the European V. officinalis, whose root preparation, popularly known as valerian, has been employed as a mild sedative for a long time. In recent years, much attention has been draw to the iridoids, one of the major bioactive constituents of V. jatamansi, leading to the discovery of a series of new iridoids with anti-tumor and neuroprotective activities. Their action machnism also has been discussed. This paper summerized the iridoids and their bioactivities from V. jatamansi in recent years, which could provide basic foundation for development and research of V. jatamansi.

Impacts of electroacupuncture at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11) on premature heartbeat / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the specific clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11) on premature heartbeat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seventy-two cases of premature heartbeat were randomized into an observation group and a control group. In the observation group, electroacupuncture was applied at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11). In the control group, electroacupuncture was applied at bilateral Xuanzhong (GB 39). The treatment was given once a day and 10 times made one session in both groups. Respectively, the dynamic electrocardiogram detection was done before treatment and after one session of treatment in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The total effective rate was 47.1% (16/34) in the observation group and 6.5% (2/31) in the control group. The efficacy in the observation group was superior to that in the control group, presenting the statistical significant difference in comparison (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Electroacupuncture at Lingtai (GV 10) and Shendao (GV 11) has specific clinical efficacy on premature heartbeat.</p>

Determination of flavonoids in buds of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae by HPLC / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a quantitative method for the determination of four flavonoids in buds of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The sample was extracted by ultrasonic with ethyl acetate for 30 minutes and separated on kromasil ODS column with mobile phase of acetonitrile-tetrahydrofuran-1% acetic acid solution (2.5:21.5:76) and detection wavelength was 347 nm.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The arcapillin, cirsiliol, cirsimaritin and cirsilineol in bud extract were well separated by this method. Linearities of arcapillin, cirsiliol, cirsimaritin and cirsilineol were good (r = 0.9992, 0.9999, 0.9997, 0.9997) in ranges of 0.035-0.56, 0.043-0.69, 0.040-0.64 and 0.040-0.64 microg, respectively. The average recoveries were 96.8%, 97.3%, 96.8%, 98.5% and RSD the values of repeatability were 2.5%, 3.0%, 1.5%, 3.2%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The method validation data indicated that the method is reliable and it can be used for quality control of Herba Artemisiae Scopariae and its preparations.</p>

Studies on chemical constituents in bud of Artemisia scoparia (II) / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the chemical constituents in flower bud of Artemisia scoparia.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The constituents were isolated and purified by means of various chromatographic methods, and spectroscopic methods were used to identify their structures.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Four flavones were isolated and their structures were identified as hyperin (V), eupafolin (VI), pedalitin (VII), 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxy-6,5'-dimethoxyflavone (VIII).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Compounds V, VI, VII, VIII were obtained from this plant for the first time.</p>