ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hepatoid carcinoma (HC) is an extremely rare neoplasm that is morphologically similar to hepatocellular carcinoma. HC has been described in various organs; however, HC of the pancreas is extremely rare. To our knowledge, only 38 cases have been reported. We present a case of HC of the pancreas in a 36-year-old male patient. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old cachexic man with no significant past medical history was transferred to our hospital with a history of painless jaundice, elevated blood glucose and significant weight loss. Lab tests showed elevated serum transaminases, bilirubin and alpha-fetoprotein levels. Magnetic resonance imaging of the upper abdomen showed a diffusely enlarged pancreas, appearing "sausage-shaped". Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed upstream ductal dilation secondary to stricture of the main pancreatic duct and the common bile duct, which were not visible. Immunohistochemistry of biopsied tissue from a percutaneous pancreatic biopsy showed tumor cell positivity for HepPar1, polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen and CK19, suggestive of HC of the pancreas. The characteristics of 39 patients with HC of the pancreas were reviewed. CONCLUSION: HC of the pancreas is more prevalent in males, and patients have a median age of 57 years. It is most commonly asymptomatic or presents as abdominal back pain, and the pancreatic tail is the most common location. At the time of diagnosis, liver metastasis is often present.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effect of matrine on bladder cancer cell growth and invasion in vitro through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. METHODS: Human T24 bladder cancer cell lines were cultured and treated with different doses of matrine (0.25 mg/mL, 0.5 mg/mL and 1.0 mg/mL) as well as 20 µmol/L PI3K inhibitor LY294002 for 24 h, and the cell proliferation activity, the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, proliferation genes and invasion genes were determined. RESULTS: Different doses of matrine could decrease the cell viability value, the number of invasive cells as well as the expression of p-PI3K, p-AKT, MMP2 and MMP9, and increase the expression of p16, p21 and p27 in dose-dependent manner; p16, p21 and p27 expression in cells of 20 µmol/L LY29002 group were significantly higher than those of 0 µmol/L LY29002 group while MMP2 and MMP9 expression were significantly lower than those of 0 µmol/L LY29002 group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Matrine can inhibit bladder cancer cell proliferation and invasion in vitro and regulate the expression of cell cycle-inhibiting molecules and invasion-related genes through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study whether miR-21 targets and inhibits tumor suppressor gene PTEN can promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion. METHODS: Prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 were cultured and divided into negative control group (NC group), miR-21 group, pcDNA3.1 group, miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group and miR-21+PTEN group that were transfected with different miR and plasmid, respectively. After 12 h and 24 h of transfection, the cell viability and invasive cell number were determined; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2, MMP9, PTEN, PI3K, and AKT expression in cells were determined. RESULTS: After 12 h and 24 h of transfection, OD value and invasive cell number of miR-21 group were significantly higher than those of NC group; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2, MMP9, PI3K and AKT expression levels were significantly higher than those of NC group while PTEN expression level was significantly lower than that of NC group; after 12 h and 24 h of transfection, OD value and invasive cell number of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group were significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1 group, and the OD value and invasive cell number of miR-21+PTEN group were significantly lower than those of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group; after 24 h of transfection, Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2 and MMP9 content of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group were significantly higher than those of pcDNA3.1 group, and Bcl-2, Survivin, MMP2 and MMP9 content of miR-21+PTEN group were significantly lower than those of miR-21+pcDNA3.1 group. CONCLUSIONS: miR-21 can target and inhibit tumor suppressor gene PTEN expression to promote prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasion.
ABSTRACT
Primary adrenal myelolipoma is a rare, non-functioning adrenal benign tumor that is composed of mature adipose tissue and a variable amount of haemopoietic elements. Clinically, it is difficult to get diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma because the patient usually doesn't have obvious symptoms and signs in early stage. In the present study, two cases of primary bilateral adrenal myelolipomas are reported. Clinical presentation, imaging diagnostic features, histopathological changes and surgical treatments of the two patients are discussed. Preoperative diagnostic imaging examinations (B-mode ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging sans) assisted getting a prediction diagnosis of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas. A two-stage surgery was used to successfully excise bilateral adrenal myelolipomas in the two patients. Conventional open adrenalectomy was applied to remove the adrenal myelolipomas greater than 6 cm, and laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed to excise the adrenal tumors smaller than 6 cm. Bilateral adrenal myelolipomas of the two patients were finally confirmed by postoperative histopathological examinations. Understanding clinical, imaging diagnostic and histopathological features of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas will facilitate timely diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Surgical removal of bilateral adrenal myelolipomas is safe, curative and beneficial. The two-stage surgery appears to be the best treatment option for the patients with bilateral adrenal myelolipomas because it achieves optimal treatment effectiveness with minimized sequelae.
ABSTRACT
Pike perch (Sander canadensis) is a member of the largest order of Osteichthyes, Perciformes, and is an important ecological and economic freshwater species, which distributes in Ili River and Ergis River of Xinjiang Province, China. In this study, we sequenced the whole mitochondrial genome of pike perch, and analyzed the similarity with its related species. The mitochondrial genome of S. canadensis is 16,542 bp in length with 55.05% AT content, contained 13 protein coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 ribosomal genes and an 892 bp non-coding region. In control region, 6 CSBs (CSB-1, CSB-2, CSB-3, CSB-D, CSB-E and CSB-F), one potential TAS and one poly-T region were identified. Comparing all protein-coding genes and whole genome sequence with 4 species of Perciformes (three species of Percidae, Perca flavescens. Percina macrolepida. Etheostoma radiosum and one outgroup Oreochromis sp. red tilapia), ND3 gene has the highest mutation rate, and S. canadensis has higher similarity with Perca flavescens than others. The mitochondrial genomic sequence will help us to study the conservation genetic and evolution of Percidae.
