Primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma: report of a case and review of literature.

We report a case of primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma that occurred in a 25-year-old woman. The patient complained of a mass in the right ovary discerned by physical examination 2 months prior. Ultrasound examination indicated that the right ovary was enlarged and abundant blood flow signals were observed. Right salpingo-oophorectomy was subsequently performed. Histology was characterized by diffuse sheets of monotonous medium-sized lymphoid cells with plentiful mitotic figures and apoptosis. Numerous tingible-body macrophages were found in the ovarian tissue, presenting a starry sky pattern. The tumor cells expressed CD20, CD10, BCL6 and MYC in the absence of BCL2. Ki-67 proliferative index was very high with a proliferation rate of near 100%. MYC (8q24) rearrangement was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with no BCL2 (18q21) and BCL6 (3q37) gene rearrangements. Cumulative evidence established primary ovarian Burkitt lymphoma as the final histopathologic diagnosis with clinical stage I (FIGO). The patient received HyperCVAD chemotherapy after surgery and remained complete response (CR) for 18 months. We aim to provide insight into the future treatment of this rare but lethal disease.

Primary pulmonary myxoid sarcoma with EWSR1-CREB1 fusion: a case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary pulmonary myxoid sarcoma (PPMS) is an extremely rare lung sarcoma that is characterized in most cases by recurrent balanced chromosomal translocation t(2;22)(q33;q12) leading to the oncogenic fusion gene EWSR1-CREB1. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of PPMS with molecular confirmation using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and DNA sequencing in a 45-year-old female patient. Computer tomography (CT) scanning revealed a peripheral circumscribed solid mass of 2.1 × 2 cm in the right lung superior lobe. Histologically, the tumor cells ranged from stellate, polygonal to chondrocyte-like or physaliferous-like, forming reticular network of delicate lace-like cellular strands and cords in abundant myxoid stroma. The tumor cell immunophenotype was positive for vimentin, EMA and negative for CK-pan, TTF-1, CAM5.2, S-100, calponin, SMA, desmin, ALK, CD31 and CD34. Molecular analysis demonstrated EWSR1-CREB1 gene fusion in this tumor. During 38 months of follow-up, the patient was alive with no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence or metastasis. CONCLUSION: PPMS is a rare low-grade sarcoma with distinct histological and genetic features. We add another case to the literature of this rare tumor and report for the first time occurrence of chondrocyte-like and physaliferous-like tumor cells in this tumor, thus enriching its morphologic and cytologic spectrum.

Primary pericardial primitive neuroectodermal tumor: a case report and review of literature.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) is a rare, high-grade malignant tumor that most commonly occurs in the peripheral nervous system, bone, and deep soft tissues. It is extremely rare in the pericardium. To the best of our knowledge, only two patients with primary PNET of the pericardium have been reported so far in the literature. We report a case of PNET of the pericardium in a 13-year-old female patient, who was referred to our hospital for dyspnea and edema of lower extremities. Computer tomography (CT) scanning revealed a soft tissue mass in the pericardium which was surgically removed. The diagnosis of PNET was confirmed by histology, immunohistochemistry and molecular study. The patient was alive and well at follow up 8 months after surgery.

Study on the synthesis and physicochemical properties of starch acetate with low substitution under microwave assistance.

In this study, synthesis and physicochemical properties of starch acetate with low substitution under microwave were studied. A three-level-three-factorial Central Composite Design using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the reaction conditions. The optimal parameters are as follows: amount of acetic anhydride of 12%, radiation time of 11min, and microwave power of 100W. These optimal conditions predicted by RSM were confirmed that the degree of substitution (DS) of acetate starch is 0.0691mg/g and the physical and chemical properties of natural corn starch (NCS) and corn starch acetate (ACS) were further studied.The transparency, water separation, water absorption, expansion force, and solubility of ACS low substitution are better than NCS, while the NCS's hydrolysis percentage is higher than ACS, which indicate that the modified corn starch has better performance than native corn starch. The surface morphology of the corn starch acetate was examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), which showed that it had a smooth surface and a spherical and polygonal shape. However, samples' shape is irregular. Crystal structure was observed by X-ray diffraction, and the ACS can determine the level of microwave technology that can destroy the extent of the crystal and amorphous regions. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy shows that around 1750cm-1 carbonyl signal determines acetylation bonding successfully.

Cetuximab intensifies the ADCC activity of adoptive NK cells in a nude mouse colorectal cancer xenograft model.

Natural killer (NK) cells, discovered ~40 years ago, are believed to be the most effective cytotoxic lymphocytes to counteract cancer; however, adoptive NK cell therapy in vivo has encountered certain limitations, including a lack of specificity. The drug cetuximab can mediate antibody dependent cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) activity through NK cells in vivo, and has been approved for the first-line treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-positive metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the ADCC activity of adoptive NK cells, induced by cetuximab in a nude mouse CRC xenograft model, has not been previously reported. The aim of the present study was to explore the ADCC activity of cetuximab combined with adoptive NK cells in CRC xenograft models with various EGFR expressions. The nude mouse xenograft models were established by subcutaneously injecting LOVO or SW620 cells. The mice were then randomly divided into 6 groups: Phosphate-buffered saline, cetuximab, human immunoglobulin G (hIgG), NK cells, hIgG plus NK cells and cetuximab plus NK cells. The ADCC antitumor activity was evaluated in these CRC models. The results indicated that the cetuximab plus NK cells group showed the greatest tumor inhibition effect compared with the NK cells group in LOVO xenograft tumor models with positive EGFR expression. However, the combination of cetuximab and NK cells did not show a stronger tumor inhibitory effect against the SW620 xenograft tumor models compared with the efficiency of NK cells. In conclusion, cetuximab could intensify the ADCC antitumor activity of adoptive NK cells towards CRC with an increased EGFR expression. The combination of cetuximab and NK cells may be a potential immunotherapy for metastatic CRC patients with positive EGFR expression.

An effective utilization of the slag from acid leaching of coal-waste: preparation of water glass with a low-temperature co-melting reaction.

This paper presents an effective utilization of slag from acid leaching of coal-waste with a novel approach, namely low-temperature co-melting method, for preparation of sodium silicate (Na2O x nSiO2) using slag from acid leaching of coal-waste as feedstock. It is very interesting that the co-melting reaction temperature of the mixture of Na2CO3 and the feedstock (50-100 microm) was as low as 850 degrees C, which was significantly lower than the temperature used in traditional sodium silicate production (1400 degrees C). The optimum SiO2/Na2O ratio was identified as 7:3 according to the results of thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), ICP-AES, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. In this condition, the main product was sodium disilicate (Na2O x 2SiO2), with water solubility of 85.0%. More importantly, the impurities such as aluminum in the feedstock, which had adverse effect on subsequent treatment, were concentrated almost completely in the filter residue as insoluble sodium alumunosilicates, i.e., Na(Si2Al)O6 x H2O. The lower co-melting temperature of this process demonstrates a significant energy-saving opportunity and thus a promising approach for highly effective utilization of coal-waste. Implications: Recently, alumina extraction from coal-waste has been extensively investigated and industrial applied in China. However, the slag-containing silica generated from the acid leaching process of coal-waste led to a secondary pollution, which hindered large-scale production. The proposed low-temperature co-melting method for preparation of sodium silicate (Na2O x nSiO2) using slag from acid leaching of coal-waste as feedstock indicated that it is an efficient approach for the recovery of silica from the acid-leached slag of coal-waste with minimal environmental impact.

Clinical implications of deregulated CDK4 and Cyclin D1 expression in patients with human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Deregulated cell cycle can contribute to the unscheduled proliferation in cancer cells. Overexpression of cell cycle regulators CDK4 and Cyclin D1 has been reported in many cancers. The aim of this study is to determine the clinical implications of CDK4 and Cyclin D1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The levels of mRNA and protein were analyzed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in 59 paired HCC and the neighboring noncancer tissues. The relationship between CDK4 and Cyclin D1 expression, clinicopathological parameters, and prognosis was investigated. Our data demonstrated that the mRNA level of CDK4 was up-regulated (p = 0.019), while that of Cyclin D1 was down-regulated (p = 0.002), in HCC. Immunohistochemical data confirmed that CDK4 protein was increased in 73 % and Cyclin D1 protein was decreased in 66 % of HCC samples. Overexpression of CDK4 was correlated with HBV (p = 0.054, borderline significant), tumor size (p = 0.014), and stage (p = 0.010). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that high CDK4 was correlated with a poor survival rate (I vs. II, p < 0.001; I vs. III, p < 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that tumor size (p = 0.002), stage (p = 0.021), and high CDK4 score (I vs. II-III, p < 0.001) were significant prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size (p = 0.007) and high CDK4 score (I vs. II-III, p < 0.001) were independent factors for overall survival of HCC. The expression of Cyclin D1 was not correlated with CDK4 expression, tumor grades, survival rate, and any clinicopathological parameters. CDK4 could provide a clinical prognostic marker for HCC progression.

Traditional chinese herbal patch for short-term management of knee osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective. To assess the short-term efficacy and safety of two kinds of Traditional Chinese herbal patches, Fufang Nanxing Zhitong Gao (FNZG) and Shangshi Jietong Gao (SJG), for painful knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods. Patients were randomly enrolled in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to receive FNZG (n = 60), SJG (n = 60), or placebo patch (n = 30) for 7 days. Outcome measures included visual analogue scale (VAS), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome Questionnaire (TCMSQ) subscale. Results. Although there was no significant difference among, three groups in short-term pain management, patients receiving FNZG got significant improvement in symptom of fear of coldness as compared with placebo patch (P = 0.029). The most common local adverse events of rash, itching, erythema, and slightly damaged skin were observed in 7% of participants. Conclusions. FNZG may be a useful treatment for symptom of knee OA and merits long-term study in broader populations.

Overexpression of Thy1/CD90 in human hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with HBV infection and poor prognosis.

Thy1/CD90 is an important marker of many types of stem cells. It functions as a tumor suppressor in ovarian cancer and in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this study, the expression status of Thy1 in clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue samples was investigated. Relationships of Thy1 expression with clinical parameters and patient survival rate were analyzed. The quantities of Thy1 mRNA were statistically higher in tumor tissues than those in the adjacent non-tumor tissues (p<0.001). Immunohistochemical data confirmed that Thy1 protein was increased in 73% of HCC samples. Thy1 expression was not influenced by chronic alcohol exposure or cirrhosis. Overexpression in Thy1 was correlated with age (p=0.006), hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (p=0.044), and histological grade (p=0.014). Patients with the highest level of Thy1 expression showed the poorest prognosis (p=0.040). In conclusion, overexpression of Thy1 may not suppress the development of HCC. Thy1 could provide a clinical prognostic marker for HCC.

Decreased expression of p39 is associated with a poor prognosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aims of this study are to investigate the relationship between p39 expression and clinicopathological parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate the prognostic value of p39 for HCC patients. Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry was used to measure p39 expression in tumor and adjacent nontumor samples. Relationships of p39 expression with clinical parameters and patient survival were analyzed. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that the quantity of p39 mRNA in cancerous tissue was significantly lower than that in nontumor tissue (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemistry data confirmed that p39 protein was reduced in 64% of HCC. p39 expression was not influenced by chronic alcohol exposure or cirrhosis. Reduction in p39 was correlated with the HBV (P = 0.039), HCV (P = 0.011), and histological grade (P < 0.001). HCC patients with lower p39 expression had poorer overall survival rate than that with high expression (HR, 2.868; 95% CI, 1.451-5.670; P = 0.002). Together with other results, these results reveal that p39 expression was reduced in HCC tissue. p39 could be a useful clinical prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma patients.