Overexpression of erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor B4 and ephrin-B2 is associated with estrogen receptor expression in endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed types of endometrial cancer and is typically a consequence of continuous estrogen receptor stimulation. Erythropoietin-producing hepatocyte receptor B4 (EphB4) and its ligand ephrin-B2 have been reported to be overexpressed in EC cells; however, the function in EC remains unclear. The present study aimed to elucidate the role of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 in EC. The protein expression pattern of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 was analyzed through immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis in endometrium with adenomyosis or simple endometrial hyperplasia, atypical endometrial hyperplasia, double-positive estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) EC and double-negative ER/PR EC. The expression of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 was demonstrated to be increased in atypical EH and ER/PR-positive EC, but not ER/PR-negative EC. Furthermore, EphB4 and ephrin-B2 expression was positively associated with ER expression in EC tissue. The results of the present study suggest that the overexpression of EphB4 and ephrin-B2 in the endometrium serves a role in the pathogenesis of EC, in addition to being associated with ER expression.

Roles of mTOR and p-mTOR in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the relationship between expression of mammal target of rapamycin (mTOR) and phosphorylation of mTOR (p-mTOR) protein in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways in gastrointestinal stromal tumors and relatiuonships with clinical factors. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of the associated proteins mTOR, p-mTOR, and phosphorylation of the tumor suppressor genes PTEN, P27, VEGF, and EGFR in 40 cases of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, with division into a very low and low risk group as well as a moderate and high risk group. RESULTS: The positive rate of mTOR and p-mTOR was significantly increased in the moderate and high risk group compared with the very low and low risk group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). When grouped according to size, the positive mTOR expression rate exhibited a statistical difference (P<0.05), which was significantly increased in the group of tumors larger than 5 cm. The difference in the positive mTOR and p-mTOR expression rate exhibit no statistical significance among the PTEN, P27, VEGF, and EGFR expression subgroups (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The different expressions of mTOR and p-mTOR in the signal transduction pathway of gastrointestinal stromal tumor in the different degree-of-risk groups suggested that the mTOR and p-mTOR of the signal transduction pathway serve an important function in the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

[Preliminary study on establishing an animal model of neuroschistosomiasis by direct injection of Schistosoma japonicum eggs through skull].

OBJECTIVE: To establish an experimental model of neuroschistosomiasis and investigate the model establishment factors. METHODS: Rabbits were used for the animal model and Schistosoma japonicum eggs (1 mg/ml) were directly injected into the brain by two ways of a bone drill or needle. The symptoms were observed and in the first and second week and later, the rabbits' brains were removed for pathological examinations. RESULTS: One to two weeks after the injection of schistosome eggs, the rabbits had various neurological symptoms such as loss of appetite, hemiparesis, seizure, etc. The pathological analysis showed the schistosome egg granuloma inflammatory reaction among 90% rabbits. CONCLUSION: This new method of direct injection of S. japonicum eggs through skull into the brain provides a good and easy animal model of neuroschistosomiasis.

Establishment of a cerebral schistosomiasis experimental model in rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to establish a cerebral schistosomiasis model in rabbits, to provide a valuable tool for morphological analysis, clinical manifestation observation, as well as investigations into immunological reactions and pathogenesis of focal inflammatory reaction in neuroschistosomiasis (NS). METHODS: Sixty New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into operation, sham-operation and normal groups. Rabbits in the operation group received direct injection of dead schistosome eggs into the brain, while their counterparts in the sham-operation group received saline injection. Rabbits in the normal group received no treatment. Base on the clinical manifestations, rabbits were sacrificed on days 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, and 30 post injection, and brain samples were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Sections were observed under the microscope. RESULTS: The rabbits in the operation group exhibited various neurological symptoms, including anorexy, partial and general seizures, and paralysis. The morphological analysis showed several schistosome eggs in the nervous tissue on day 3 post operation, with very mild inflammation. On days 7-10 post operation, several schistosome eggs were localized in proximity to red blood cells with many neutrophilic granulocytes and eosinophilic granulocytes around them. The schistosome eggs developed into the productive granuloma stage on days 14-20 post operation. On day 30, the schistosome eggs were found to be in the healing-by-fibrosis stage, and the granuloma area was replaced by fibrillary glia through astrocytosis. The sham-operation group and the normal group showed negative results. CONCLUSION: This method might be used to establish the cerebral schistosomiasis experimental model. Several factors need to be considered in establishing this model, such as the antigenic property of eggs, the time of scarification, and the clinical manifestations.

Decreased expression of KLF6 and its significance in gastric carcinoma.

To study the expression of the Krüppel-like transcription factor 6 (KLF6) in human gastric carcinoma and normal gastric mucosa tissues, and to explore the role of KLF6 in the carcinogenesis and tumor progression and its clinical significance. Expression of KLF6, P21WAF1 and PCNA was investigated by immunohistochemistry for 69 surgically resected gastric carcinoma tissues and corresponding normal gastric mucosa tissues, respectively. The correlations of KLF6 expression with clinicopathological characteristics, P21WAF1 and PCNA were examined. Positive-expression of KLF6 was 64 out of 69 cases (92.8%) in normal gastric mucosa and only 23 cases (33.3%) in gastric carcinoma. Expression of KLF6 in the gastric carcinoma was remarkably lower than normal gastric mucosa. Decreased expression of KLF6 in gastric carcinoma was significantly associated with histological differentiation (P<0.01), TNM stage (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01) and distant metastasis (P<0.05). There was no significant correlation between KLF6 expression and sex, age. Meanwhile, expression of KLF6 was associated with expression of P21WAF1 in both normal gastric mucosa and gastric carcinoma (P<0.05). In addition, decreased expression of KLF6 in gastric carcinoma was positively associated with PCNA level (r=0.719, P<0.01) by association analysis. Down-regulation of KLF6 might play an important role in the carcinogenesis and development of human gastric carcinoma and have significant clinical value.