Diagnostic features and therapeutic strategies for malignant paraganglioma in a patient: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Paragangliomas and extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas are uncommon neuroendocrine tumors with ubiquitous distribution. Malignant paraganglioma is a relatively rare entity. We report the treatment and pathological characteristics of a patient with malignant paraganglioma, and summarize the latest advances in the treatment of malignant paraganglioma based on a literature review. CASE SUMMARY: A 45-year-old Chinese woman presented to the hospital due to pain in the waist (right side) and right buttock, and was diagnosed as malignant paraganglioma after the placement of ureteral stent, implantation of ileus catheter, and transvaginal removal of the vaginal mass. After relief of intestinal obstruction, the patient received intravenous chemotherapy and peritoneal perfusion chemotherapy. Although her pelvic mass disease was stable, she developed multiple liver metastases and bone metastases. Due to the development of spinal cord compression, she underwent orthopedic surgery, followed by radiotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy with apatinib, but with poor disease control. CONCLUSION: Clinical management of paraganglioma is challenging for endocrinologists and oncologists. Prospective studies are required to develop standardized therapeutic strategies for malignant paragangliomas.

Effects of dietary Enteromorpha powder on reproduction-related hormones and genes during the late laying period of Zi geese.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Enteromorpha powder supplementation on reproduction-related hormones and genes in the late laying period of Zi geese. METHODS: A total of 312 (1-year-old) Zi geese with similar laying rate were randomly divided into 2 groups with 6 replicates each, each with 21 female geese and 5 male geese. The control group was fed with a basal diet and the test group was fed with a diet containing 3% Enteromorpha powder. The trial period lasted for 7 weeks. RESULTS: Our results showed that the laying rate was improved in the test group at each week of trial (p<0.01), and the levels of estradiol in serum and prolactin in ovary were increased compared with the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Based on above results, Enteromorpha powder supplementation at 3% could promote reproductive performance during the late laying period of Zi geese.

Nomogram predicting overall survival of rectal squamous cell carcinomas patients based on the SEER database: A population-based STROBE cohort study.

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of clinical and pathologic factors in rectal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and to construct a nomogram for their outcome prediction.The study cohort was selected from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program between January 2004 and December 2013. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression model to evaluate the prognostic value of involved variables. All prognostic factors were combined to construct a nomogram to predict the overall survival (OS), followed by discrimination as well as calibration plots and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for assessing the predictive accuracy of the nomogram.We identified 806 patients with a median follow-up time of 35 months. Multivariate analyses revealed that marital status (P < .001), age (P < .001), T stage (P = .008), M stage (P < .001), surgery (P = .004), chemotherapy (P = .003) and radiotherapy (P = .016) were independent prognostic factors of OS. Finally, the 7 variables were combined to construct a 3-year and 5-year OS nomogram. The concordance indexes (C-indexes) of OS were 0.756 (95% CI, 0.726-0.786) for the internal validation and 0.729 (95% CI, 0.678-0.780) for the external validation. Additionally, there was superior discrimination power of the nomogram over the SEER stage or the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging classification (P < .001). Calibration plots further showed good consistency between the nomogram prediction and actual observation. The area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curves for 3-year OS was 0.811 (95% CI: 0.769-0.853) in the training cohort and 0.748 (95% CI: 0.681-0.815) in the validation cohort. The AUC for 5-year OS was 0.770 (95% CI: 0.721-0.819) in the training cohort and 0.797 (95% CI: 0.731-0.863) in the validation cohort. Finally, Kaplan-Meier analysis further validates the predictive potential of the nomogram.Marital status, age, T stage, M stage, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were significantly associated with OS of patients with rectal SCC. This predictive model has the potential to provide an individualized risk estimate of survival in patients with rectal SCC.

Identification of antioxidant activity of two new aromatic ring butyrolactone derivatives from Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz.

The present study carried out a phytochemical investigation on the root barks of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, leading to the isolation and characterization of two new aromatic ring butyrolactone derivatives, dasycarpusphenol acid A (1) and dasycarpusphenol acid B (2). Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic techniques and HR-FAB-MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antioxidant activity, with their IC50 values being 28.95 and 41.76 mg·mL-1, respectively.

ST3Gal III modulates breast cancer cell adhesion and invasion by altering the expression of invasion-related molecules.

Changes in the carbohydrate structure on the surface of tumor cells is an important feature of cancer metastasis. The specific role of sialic acids in the glycoconjugate terminal has not yet been clearly elucidated in these processes. Previously, we reported that α2,3-sialic acid residues in breast cancer are associated with metastatic potential. The α2,3-sialyltransferase ST3Gal III, which adds α2,3-sialic acids to glycoproteins, is overexpressed in various tumors, and enzyme activity is correlated with tumor metastasis, yet its mechanistic role has not been fully evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the influence of ST3Gal III on key steps in the process of breast cancer metastasis. ST3Gal III-overexpressing and ST3Gal III-silenced breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell lines were generated. They showed an increase or decrease in the tumor-associated antigen sialyl-Lewis X (SLeX). The E-selectin binding capacity of the transfectants was proportional to cell surface SLeX levels. Cell migration and invasion were positively correlated with ST3Gal III levels. Moreover, ST3Gal III expression modulated the protein expression of invasion-related molecules, including ß1 integrin, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and cyclooxygenase-2, which may account for the mechanism involved in the effects of ST3Gal III on breast cancer invasiveness. In conclusion, our findings in these novel models of ST3Gal III expression revealed a critical requirement for ST3Gal III in several steps of breast cancer metastasis. ST3Gal III modulates breast cancer cell adhesion and invasion by altering the expression of invasion-related molecules. This study provides novel insights into the mechanisms underlying metastasis and suggests a new target for the effective drug treatment of breast cancer metastasis.

[Effect of lupeol on migration and invasion of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and its mechanism].

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of lupeol, an extract of Euphorbia fischerana Steud, on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells migration and invasion. Lupeol was found to inhibit the invasion of MDA-MB-231 in the cell adhesion assay, transwell test and wound healing assay. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), -9 (MMP-9) and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in breast cancer following treatment with different concentrations of lupeol was analyzed with Western blot. Lupeol inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose- dependent manner in vitro (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and NF-κB p65 levels was significantly down-regulated. These observations suggest that lupeol can inhibit the abilities of invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting the protein expression of COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Its mechanism may be related to inhibition of the nuclear NF-κB signal pathway.

[Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw on atherosclerosis of rats].

The research aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of Opuntia dillenii Haw polysaccharide (OPS) on atherosclerosis of rats. First atherosclerotic rat models were established by high-fat and high-calcium diet. Thirty days later, the rats were treated with low dosage of OPS (0.2 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) or high dosage of OPS (0.4 g x kg(-1) x d(-1)) by intraperitoneal injection for 60 days continuously. At the end of treatment, thoracic aorta rings were prepared and vasorelaxation of rat thoracic aorta in different experiment groups were determined by using 620M multi wire myograph system in vitro. Blood and livers of rats were collected. Then plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) of rats were separately determined using whole automatic biochemical analyzer; protein level of hepatic apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and that of hepatic diglyceride acyltransferase (Dgat1) were measured by Western Blot technique. Results showed that the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax decreased markedly in the model group compared with that in the normal group, and significant differences existed in vasorelaxation ratios induced by different concentrations of carbamylcholine chloride (Carb) between these two groups (P < 0.01). After OPS treatment, the ability of rat thoracic aorta to relax improved markedly, the vasorelaxation ratios induced by Carb at 5 and 10 µmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.34 ± 0.08 and 0.62 ± 0.15 in the group treated with low dosage of OPS, while the ratios induced by Carb at 1 and 5 µmol x L(-1) were respectively 0.54 ± 0.08 and 0.98 ± 0.02 in the group treated with high dosage of OPS, which were all significantly different with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Plasma contents of TC, TG and LDL reduced significantly by the treatments both with low and high dosages of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). Protein level of hepatic ApoB and that of hepatic Dgat1 decreased significantly after the treatment with high dosage of OPS compared with those in the model group (P < 0.01). These results indicate that OPS can markedly improve the vasorelaxation of thoracic aorta of atherosclerotic rats and has significant anti-atherosclerotic effect; inhibiting the expression of ApoB and Dgat1 and thus decreasing the amounts of TC, LDL and TG serving as one of the molecular mechanisms of its antiatherosclerosis effect.

[Effect of ethyl gallate on invasion abilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells].

This study is to investigate the effect of ethyl gallate on invasion capabilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Using cell adhesion and transwell assay, separately, the effects of ethyl gallate on the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. The Akt-NF-κB signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blot. Also, the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Ethyl gallate inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro (P<0.05), inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, phosphorylation of AKt and protein expression of NF-κB. It is concluded that ethyl gallate can inhibit the abilities of invasion of breast cancer in vitro by inhibiting the mRNA levels of MMP-9/MMP-2, phosphorylation of Akt and protein expression of NF-κB.

Low-dose cytarabine and aclarubicin combined with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for the treatment of relapsed or primary refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia: a retrospective study of 25 Chinese patients.

Despite improvements in treatment, the prognosis of relapsed or primary refractory acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) remains poor, and outcomes are worse in older adults with the short first complete remission (CR). Attainment of the second CR by salvage therapy would improve the survival of these patients and may enable them to undergo curative treatment with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The fact that there are diverse salvage protocols for these adult patients but without a striking CR-induction efficacy indicates that efforts are still needed to indentify new effective reinduction regimens. In this study, the CAG regimen (cytarabine, 10 mg/m(2) subcutaneously every 12 h on days 1-14; aclarubicin, 5-7 mg/m(2) intravenously daily on days 1-8; and concurrent granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, 200 µg/m(2) /day subcutaneously) was administered to 25 patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, including 11 T-cell ALL (T-ALL) and 14 B-cell (B-ALL) patients (age range, 11-61 years; median age, 26 years), to assess its efficacy as a salvage therapy. One course of the CAG regimen resulted in an overall response [CR or partial remission (PR)] rate of 64%, a CR rate of 56% and generally mild adverse effects. An overall response was observed in all 11 T-ALL patients (10 CR and 1 PR) and 35.7% of B-ALL patients (p = 0.0009). The significant treatment potential of CAG regimen for relapsed or primary refractory ALL, especially for T-ALL patients, described in this report would prepare them for a second CR to pursue longer survival.

Discrete water clusters in tetra-µ-cyanido-tetra-cyanidobis(1,4,7-triisopropyl-1,4,7-triaza-cyclo-nona-ne)dicopper(II)dinickel(II) tetra-hydrate.

The title tetra-cyanido-nickelate-copper complex, [Cu2Ni2(CN)8(C15H33N3)2]·4H2O, was synthesized by self-assembly using potassium tetracyanidonickelate(II) and dichlorido(1,4,7-triisopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane)copper(II). The asymmetric unit contains half of a complex mol-ecule and two water mol-ecules. The entire complex has -1 symmetry and contains Ni(II) in a slightly distorted square-planar and Cu(II) in a square-pyramidal coordination environment. The crystal packing shows a discrete tetra-mer water cluster. Within the cluster, the four water mol-ecules are fully coplanar and each water monomer acts both as single O-H⋯O and O-H⋯N hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor.

Immunostimulatory activities of a low molecular weight antitumoral polysaccharide isolated from Agaricus blazei Murill (LMPAB) in Sarcoma 180 ascitic tumor-bearing mice.

LMPAB is a linear beta-(1-3)-glucan we isolated from polysaccharide extract of Agaricus blazei Murill (AbM). Effects of LMPAB on splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity, splenocyte proliferation, index of spleen and thymus, IFN-gamma expression in spleen and the concentration of IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-alpha in serum of S180 ascitic tumor-bearing mice were detected. The results showed that intraperitoneal injection of LMPAB (100 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) significantly increased the thymus index. LMPAB augmented splenic NK cell activity in a dose-dependent manner (50-200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). The concanavalin A (3 microg/ ml) stimulated splenocyte proliferation was significantly enhanced by LMPAB at dosages of 50, 100 or 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Further studies showed that LMPAB (50, 100 or 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1), 14d) significantly increased the production of IL-12, TNF-alpha, IL-18 and the expression IFN-gamma as determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the anti-tumor effects of LMPAB are closely associated with up-regulation of activity of NK cells, expression of IFN-gamma in spleen and the systemic level of IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-alpha in tumor-bearing mice.