Survivin is critically involved in VEGFR2 signaling-mediated esophageal cancer cell survival.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling promotes angiogenesis by stimulating the migration and proliferation of endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Survivin and VEGF receptor 1/2/3 (VEGFR 1/2/3) in esophageal carcinoma tissues (ECTs), and to explore the therapy effect of the suppression of VEGFR2 signaling. Here, we found that VEGFR2 and Survivin had high expressions and a significant correlation (r = 0.874, P < 0.002) in ECTs. Further, we found that VEGFR2 signaling could activate the AKT1/MDM2/Survivin pathway. The inhibition of VEGFR2 signaling with the XL184 treatment downregulated the phosphorylation of AKT1 and MDM2, and then, increased the activation of Caspase 3/7, resulting in the reduction of cell viability and the apoptosis of HUVECs. Additionally, in the esophageal tumor model, the tumor growth was significantly suppressed by blocking Survivin and the suppression of tumor growth was more effective in the combined treatment by blocking Survivin and Bcl-xl/Bcl-2. Our data thus revealed that Survivin in the signal downstream of VEGFR2 played an important role in esophageal cancer cell survival and might be a potential candidate target for the combined therapy for esophageal cancer.

Inhibitory effect of ultrasound-mediated drug loaded carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan nanodroplet on ovarian cancer cells / 中国医学影像技术

Objective To evaluate the inhibitory effect of phase change doxorubicin loaded carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan nanodroplet on ovarian cancer cells,and the effect of its ultrasound image in vitro.Methods The carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan synthesized through the acylationreaction with carboxymethyl chitosan and hexanoic anhydride.The drug loaded carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan nanodroplets were prepared by ultrasonic emulsification.The surface morphology,particle diameter and electric potential were characterized.Ultrasound imaging of the nanodroplet was evaluated in vitro.The encapsulation efficiency was determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.The survival rate of ovarian cancer cell was detected using CCK-8 reagent.The statistical analysis was performed.Results The drug loaded carboxymethyl hexanoyl chitosan nanodroplet was successfully prepared which showed regular morphology in microscope,the mean diameter of (458.33± 43.50)nm.The encapsulation efficiency was (52.06 ± 10.14)％.The nanodroplet could enhance ultrasonic imaging.The survival rate of ultrasound combined with drug loaded nanodroplet group ([62.54± 3.60]％) was lower than those of the free drug group ([75.55±7.21]％) and drug loaded nanodroplet group ([76.18±4.94]％),ultrasound group ([89.90±0.83]％;P＜0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-mediated drug loaded nanodroplet can inhibit ovarian cancer cells,and has the potential for application in the clinical diagnosis and treatment.

The establishment and evaluation of SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system for predicting the stone-free rate of percutaneous nephrolithotomy / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To propose SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system for assessing and predicting the stone-free rate of percutaneous nephrolithotomy ( PCNL) and to investigate the clinical value of SHA.LIN scoring system for nephrolithiasis in patients undergoing PCNL .Methods A literature review from 1976 to 2014 was performed to identify clinically relevant and reproducible variables that could affect the outcomes of PCNL. Six reproducible variables available from preoperative noncontrast-enhanced computed tomography were measured , including stone size ( S) , hydronephrosis ( H) , anatomic distribution (A), length of tract(L), indicator of CT(I), number of involved calices(N) and was named as SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system .A retrospective analysis was conducted of clinical data of 116 patients with nephrolithiasis undergoing PCNL from June 2011 to March 2015. The general conditions , preoperative information , stone characteristics and perioperative variables were collected . The correlation of nephrolithometry scores based on SHA.LIN scoring system with stone-free status, operation time, blood loss, length of hospital stay and postoperative complications were analyzed . Receiver operating characteristic ( ROC) curves was drawn to detect sensitivity and specificity of SHA .LIN score in predicting the stone-free rates of PCNL.Results The SHA.LIN score was 9.13 ±2.24 in this cohort.The stone free rate was 75.9%(88/116).Postoperative complications occurred in 32 (27.6%) cases.In those patients with stone free, the SHA.LIN score was 8.27 ±1.62, significantly lower than that in those patients with residual stones 11.86 ±1.72 ( t =-10.069, P=0.000) .The SHA.LIN score showed significant correlation with the postoperative stone free status, operation time, estimated blood loss (P0.05).The area under curve of ROC curves for the SHA.LIN scoring system was 0.923 ( 95%CI 0.870 -0.975 ) . Conclusions The SHA.LIN nephrolithometry scoring system can predict postoperative stone-free status of PCNL and can be used for disease related assessment.Further research is required to evaluate its performance in predicting peri-operative variables and postoperative complications .

Primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney (literature review with 1 case report) / 中华泌尿外科杂志

Objective To discuss the presentations, pathologic features, diagnosis and treatment of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney. Methods One case of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney was reported and the relevant literature was reviewed. A 55-year-old man was admitted with complaint of right abdomen and flank pain for 5 h. Computerized tomography revealed a 12.5 cm × 11.0 cm × 9. 0 cm mass located at the middle and lower pole of the right kidney. The patient was taken radical nephrectomy. Results The diagnosis of primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney in the patient was confirmed by postoperative pathology. Under microscope, tumor was typically mitotically active, monomorphic spindle cells growing in intersecting fascicles or in solid sheets with epithelial differentiation. In some areas a haemangiopericytoma-like pattern was found. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the tumor cells were positive for the markers Vimentin, CD99 and Bcl-2, but CK was negative. The patient died of local recurrence and multi-metastasis at 8 months after surgery. Conclusions Primary synovial sarcoma of the kidney is extremely rare with a high grade of malignancy,and its prognosis is poor. The diagnosis depends on pathological features, Immunohistochemical studies and RT-PCR detection. Radical resection combined with chemicaltherapy is considered to be the most reliable treatment so far.