Clinical significance of human telomerase RNA gene (hTERC) amplification in cervical squamous cell lesions detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

BACKGROUND: Genomic amplification of the human telomerase RNA gene (hTERC), located in the chromosome 3q26 region, has been documented in tumorigenesis. The present study was designed to detect hTERC amplification in cervical lesions and evaluate whether this might serve as a supportive biomarker to cytopathology or histopathology in the diagnosis of cervical lesions. METHODS: Liquid-based thin-layer cytopathologic examination and detection of amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was conducted in 130 women, along with assessment of human papillomavirus DNA, colposcopy with biopsy, and histopathologic examination. RESULTS: In cytopathologic examinations, hTERC amplification rates for negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM),atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases were 0% (0/10), 4% (1/25), 20% (6/30), 77% (27/35), and 100% (10/10), respectively. The difference among abnormal cellular change groups was statistically significant (P< 0.05). In histopathologic examinations, hTERC amplification rates in normal squamous cell with or without inflammatory, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN 1), CIN 2, CIN 3 and SCC cases were 3.8% (2/52), 18.2% (6/33), 66.7% (6/9), 84.6% (22/26), 100% (10/10), respectively. There were significant differences among CIN1, CIN2, CIN3 and SCC cases (P< 0.05). The hTERC amplification was more specific than HPV positivity in differentiating lowgrade from high-grade cervical disorders (specificity: 88.5% vs. 70.8%, P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FISH detection of hTERC amplification could be an effective adjunct to cytopathologic or histopathologic examination for differential diagnosis of low- and high-grade cervical squamous cell disorders.

[Infrared spectrum analysis of admixture decoction of herba Ephedrae with Ramulus cinnarnomi].

The infrared spectra of decoction of herba ephedra and ramulus cinnarnomi and the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + ramulus cinnarnomi were tested. The change in the mixed decoction was discussed to study the relationship between herba ephedra and ramulus cinnarnomi after decoction. The results showed that some components of herba ephedra and ramulus cinnarnomi were retained in the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + ramulus cinnarnomi, such as 1 205 and 1 074 cm(-1), but some components that never appeared in the two component spectra increased, such as 1 394 and 678 cm(-1). New absorption peaks were generated in the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + ramulus cinnarnomi, such as 757 and 407 cm(-1). It can be showed that there are differences in the chemistry environment of the various chemical groups in the three decoctions introduced above, and with the variation in absorption peak position, possibly some new chemical compositions were created. Medical ingredients in the decoction are not simply the addition of herba ephedra and ramulus cinnarnomi based on the studies of infrared spectrum of the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + ramulus cinnarnomi, and the new notion of prescription spectroscopy was proposed.

[Infrared spectrum analysis of admixture decoction of herba ephedrae with semen armeniacae amarum].

The infrared spectra of decoction of herba ephedra and semen armeniacae amarum and the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + semen armeniacae amarum were tested. The change in the the mixed decoction was discussed to study the relationship between herba ephedra and semen armeniacae amarum after decoction. The results showed that some absorption peaks of herba ephedra and semen armeniacae amarum were retained in the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + semen armeniacae amarum, such as 1402 and 1076 cm(-1), but some absorption peaks that never appear in the two ingredient spectra increased such as 1394 and 682 cm(-1). New absorption peaks were generated in the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + semen armeniacae amarum, such as 688 and 1187 cm(-1). It can be showed that there were differences in the chemistry environment of the various chemical groups in the three decoctions introduced above, with the variation in absorption peak position, and the biochemical structure of the material changed, possibly with some new chemical compositions created. Medical ingredients in the mixed decoction of herba ephedra + semen armeniacae amarum were not simply the addition of herba ephedra and semen armeniacae amarum based on studies of infrared spectrum of decoction, and the new notion of prescription spectroscopy was proposed.

[Protein expressions of Fas and FasL in B-cell lymphoma and their significances].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Fas and FasL have been proved to be the inductional genes of cell apoptosis. Genesis of many tumors relates with functional disorder and abnormal expressions of Fas and FasL. This study was designed to detect protein expressions of Fas and FasL in B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (B-NHL) and benign lymphoid tissue, and to provide new markers for diagnosis of lymphoma. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect protein expressions of Fas and FasL in 92 specimens of B-NHL, and 20 specimens of benign lymphoid tissue. RESULTS: Fas mostly expressed on membrane. FasL mostly expressed in cytoplasm, and partially expressed in nuclei. Positive rate of Fas in B-NHL was 66.3% (61/92), and that of FasL in B-NHL was 67.4% (62/92). Positive rates of both Fas and FasL in benign lymphoid tissue were 60.0% (12/20). There was no significant difference in expressions of Fas and FasL between B-NHL group and benign group (P>0.05), but positive locations of Fas and FasL in these 2 groups are different. Positive rates of Fas and FasL were higher in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL) than in follicular lymphoma (FL), and small cell lymphoma (SLL) (87.2% vs. 64.5%, and 31.8%, P<0.05u 89.7% vs. 67.7%, and 27.3%, P<0.05). Positive rates of Fas and FasL in FL were higher than those in SLL. No correlation was found between Fas/FasL expression and patients' gender, age, and tumor location. CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of Fas and FasL are not useful for distinguishing benign lymphoid tissue from lymphoma tissue, while their locational characteristics are valuable for differential diagnosis. The expressions of Fas and FasL are considered valuable in evaluating the malignant grade of B-NHL.

[Predicting cancerization of condyloma acuminatum by testing expression of p16].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: About 3%-10% of condyloma acuminatum (CA) may develop into cancer. Some studies indicated that homologous deletion of p16 gene is a major factor that causes cancerization of CA. This study was to detect expression of P16 protein in CA tissues and its cancerization tissues, and to investigate relationship of abnormal expression of P16 and cancerization of CA. METHODS: A total of 75 skin biopsy specimens were collected, including 30 normal skin samples (control group), 35 CA samples, and 10 cancerized CA samples. Expression of P16 was tested by LSAB immunohistochemistry, and relationship of P16 and cancerization of CA was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: CA and normal skin tissues showed weakly positive expression of P16, no significant difference exist (P< 0.05). Cancerized CA tissues showed positive or strongly positive expression of P16, significantly stronger than CA and normal skin tissues (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Positive and strongly positive expression of P16 in CA tissue implied risk of cancerization of CA. P16 may be a useful predictor for cancerization of CA.