Primary cervical meningeal melanocytoma with a dumbbell shape: Case report and review of the literature.

RATIONALE: Meningeal melanocytoma is a rare benign pigmented tumor originat from leptomeningeal melanocytes. Here, we report the case of a female who presented with numbness and weakness of the limbs for approximately 6 months. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report the case of a 60-year-old Chinese female who presented with numbness and weakness of the limbs for approximately 6 months. computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a dumbbell-shaped tumor inside and outside the cervical (C) spinal canal. DIAGNOSES: The patient was using CT and MRI. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgery, and low-grade melanocytoma was diagnosed pathologically. INTERVENTIONS: Subsequently, the patient underwent a surgery, and the tumor was completely removed. OUTCOMES: The tumor did not recur after 6 months. CONCLUSION: This case suggested 2 "take-away" lessons: first, spinal meningeal melanocytomas may be dumbbell-shaped; and second, melanocytoma could appear as hyperintense, isointense, or hypointense on T2-weighted MRI.

Thymic lipofibroadenomas: Three case reports.

BACKGROUND: Thymic lipofibroadenomas are extremely rare. In this study, we investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of thymic lipofibroadenomas. CASE SUMMARY: This study included three patients with thymic lipofibroadenomas. We retrospectively analyzed the patient data to determine the clinicopathological characteristics of thymic lipofibroadenomas. The study included one man and two women [mean age, 43 (33-59) years]. All patients were non-smokers and presented with well-defined anterior mediastinal tumors. The cut surfaces of the tumors were solid, with a mixture of yellow and white areas. Microscopic evaluation of resected specimens showed scattered cord-like structures of epithelial cells embedded within abundant fibrotic and hyaline stroma admixed with variable quantities of adipose tissue. One patient showed hyperplastic thymic tissue in a part of the tumor. CONCLUSION: Thymic lipofibroadenomas are an extremely rare type of benign thymic tumor. Surgical removal of lipofibroadenomas is usually curative.

Serum matrix metalloproteinase-13 as a diagnostic biomarker for cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: A significant proportion of newly diagnosed patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) have metastasis and eventually die of the disease, necessitating the exploration of novel biomarkers for early detection of cSCC aggressiveness, risk assessment and monitoring. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) has been implicated in cSCC pathogenesis. Serum MMP-13 levels have been shown to predict survival in patients with esophageal SCC, but their diagnostic value for cSCC has not been explored. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study to examine serum MMP-13 as a biomarker for cSCC. Patients with cSCC undergoing surgical resection and health controls undergoing plastic surgery were recruited. ELISA for measurement of serum MMP-13 and immunohistochemistry for detection of tissue MMP-13 were performed, and the results were compared between the case and the control group, and among different patient groups. ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic value of serum MMP-13 levels. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female, and the age between the case (n = 77) and the control group (n = 50) were not significantly different. Patients had significantly higher serum MMP-13 levels than healthy controls. Subjects with stage 3 cSCC had markedly higher serum MMP-13 levels than those with stage 1 and stage 2 cSCC. Patients with invasive cSCC had remarkably higher serum MMP-13 than those with cSCC in situ. Post-surgery serum MMP-13 measurement was done in 12 patients, and a significant MMP-13 decrease was observed after removal of cSCC. Tumor tissues had a remarkably higher level of MMP-13 than control tissues. Serum MMP-13 predicted the presence of invasive cSCC with an AUC of 0.87 (95% CI [0.78 to 0.95]) for sensitivity and specificity of 81.7 and 82.4%, respectively for a cut-off value of 290 pg/mL. Serum MMP-13 predicted lymph node involvement with an AUC of 0.94 (95% CI [0.88 to 0.99]) for sensitivity and specificity of 93.8 and 88.5%, respectively for a cut-off value of 430 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Serum MMP-13 might serve as a valuable biomarker for early detection of cSCC invasiveness and monitoring of cSCC progression.

Correlation Between C-MYC, BCL-2, and BCL-6 Protein Expression and Gene Translocation as Biomarkers in Diagnosis and Prognosis of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma.

This study investigates the protein expression of C-MYC, BCL-2, and BCL-6 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their relationship with genetic abnormalities. A retrospective study of 42 cases on paraffin-embedded tissue specimens diagnosed with DLBCL was performed using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The expression of C-MYC, BCL-2, BCL-6 protein, and gene abnormalities in these tissue samples was analyzed. The relationship in genetic abnormalities and Ki-67, Hans classification, gender, and age was also evaluated. It was found that the positive rate of C-MYC expression was 47.6% (20/42), the rate of C-MYC gene abnormality was 26.2% (11/42), in which gene translocation accounted for 23.8% (10/42) and gene amplification 2.4% (1/42); C-MYC protein expression was positively correlated with C-MYC gene translocation (χ2 = 11.813; P = 0.001); C-MYC gene translocation was mainly found in germinal center B cell type (χ2 = 4.029; P = 0.045). The positive rate of BCL-2 protein expression was 85.71% (36/42), the positive rate of translocation was 42.86% (18/42) and the amplification rate was 26.19% (11/42); the overexpression of BCL-2 protein was correlated with the BCL-2 translocation (χ2 = 3.407; P = 0.029). The positive rate of BCL-6 protein expression was 45.24% (19/42), the positive rate of BCL-6 translocation was 14.29% (6/42) and the positive rate of BCL-6 amplification was 7.14% (3/42); the overexpression of BCL-6 protein was significantly correlated with BCL-6 translocation (χ2 = 6.091; P = 0.014). The Ki-67 index was significantly higher in C-MYC translocation cases than in non-C-MYC translocation cases (χ2 = 4.492; P = 0.034). Taken together, our results suggest that the protein expression of C-MYC, BCL-2, and BCL-6 are positively correlated with their gene translocation. Overexpression of C-MYC, BCL-2, BCL-6 protein suggests the possibility of translocation. Therefore, immunohistochemical detection of C-MYC, BCL-2, and BCL-6 are useful in diagnosis and prognosis of DLBCL.

Huaier extract restrains the proliferative potential of endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells through increased ATM by suppressing miR-203.

Endocrine therapy is one of the main treatments for breast cancer patients in the early stages. Tamoxifen and fulvestrant are the major drugs of endocrine therapy for breast cancer patients. However, acquired drug resistance often caused treatment failure and relapse for patients, which is a major clinical problem. We investigated whether Huaier extract had effects on endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells. In our study, we aimed to demonstrate the inhibitory effects of Huaier extract on tamoxifen-resistant cells (M7-TR) and fulvestrant-resistant cells (M7-FR). Using MTT and clone formation assays, we found that Huaier extract could inhibit the proliferation in M7-TR and M7-FR cells. Flow cytometry and western blotting illustrated that Huaier extract could induce G0/G1 arrest in both endocrine-resistant breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, we present that Huaier extract significantly increased ataxia telangiectasia mutation (ATM) via down-regulation of miR-203. Huaier extract also had the inhibitory effects on tumour growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. These results demonstrated that Huaier extract could inhibit the proliferation of M7-TR and M7-FR cells by increasing ATM via suppression of miR-203.

Co-ligand tuned pyrimidine-2-carboxylate Mn(ii) complexes from a 2D 63 layer to an interpenetrated srs-net.

A 63 2D layer complex [Mn3Cl3(L3)]n·H2O (1) (L = pyrimidine-2-carboxylate) was obtained by assembling 2-cyanopyrimidine and manganese chloride, in which the L ligands were generated in situ. In 1 six-membered Mn rings were constructed from MnII ions and L ligands, which were connected to each other by double chloride anions affording a 2D layer. When the chloride anions in 1 were substituted partly by formate, [Mn4Cl3L4(HCO2)]n (2) was obtained. In 2, the L ligands bridge MnII to give a 1D chain, which was further connected by the double chloride anions and Cl/formate bridges to form a two-fold interpenetrated srs-net. Interestingly, 2 exhibits an obvious SHG response of approximately 0.8 times that of KDP. Furthermore, 2 is an antiferromagnet with a field induced spin flop transition.

Cepharanthine Induces Autophagy, Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Breast Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Cepharanthine (CEP) is a biscoclaurine alkaloid extracted from Stephania cepharantha and has been shown to have an anti-tumour effect on different types of cancers. However, the anti-cancer effect of CEP on human breast cancer cells is still unclear. METHODS: We used MTT, clone formation, in vitro scratch, invasion and migration assays to confirm the inhibitory role of CEP on the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Flow cytometry, plasmid construction and western blot analysis were used to study the detailed mechanisms. RESULTS: Our study showed that CEP could inhibit cell proliferation by inducing autophagy, apoptosis, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that CEP induced autophagy and apoptosis by inhibiting the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway. CONCLUSION: We found that CEP could inhibit growth and motility of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell. Our study revealed an anti-tumour effect of CEP on breast cancer cells and suggests that CEP could be a potential new clinical therapy for breast cancer.

[Urothelial-type mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate: A case report and review of the literature].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical manifestations, pathological characteristics, and treatments of urothelial-type mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate (UMAP). METHODS: We reported a case of UMAP, reviewed relevant literature, and analyzed the clinicopaothological features, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of the disease. RESULTS: The patient was a 60-year-old male and underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for dysuria. Postoperative pathology indicated mucinous adenocarcinoma and sigmoidoscopy revealed no primary colon cancer. Immunohistochemical staining showed the negative expressions of PSA and P504s and positive expressions of CK7, CK34 ß E12, CK20, and CDX2. Thus UMAP was confirmed and treated by intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Then the patient was followed up for 30 months, which showed desirable therapeutic result, with neither local progression nor distant metastasis. CONCLUSION: UMAP has a bad prognosis and its diagnosis depends on pathological and immunohistocchemical examinations. It responds well to radical prostatectomy but is not sensitive to endocrine therapy. Radiotherapy can be considered for those who are not fit to receive radical prostatectomy.

Huaier extract synergizes with tamoxifen to induce autophagy and apoptosis in ER-positive breast cancer cells.

Tamoxifen (TAM) is the most widely used endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients, but side effects and the gradual development of insensitivity limit its application. We investigated whether Huaier extract, a traditional Chinese medicine, in combination with TAM would improve treatment efficacy in ER-positive breast cancers. MTT, colony formation, and invasion and migration assays revealed that the combined treatment had stronger anticancer effects than either treatment alone. Huaier extract enhanced TAM-induced autophagy, apoptosis, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, as measured by acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining, TUNEL, flow cytometry, and western blot. Additionally, combined treatment inhibited tumorigenesis and metastasis by suppressing the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Huaier extract also enhanced the inhibitory effects of TAM on tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. These results show that Huaier extract synergizes with TAM to induce autophagy and apoptosis in ER-positive breast cancer cells by suppressing the AKT/mTOR pathway.

rs621554 single nucleotide polymorphism of DLC1 is associated with breast cancer susceptibility and prognosis.

Deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) on chromosome 8p22, is an important tumor suppressor gene originally identified to be deleted in hepatocellular carcinoma. It can regulate the structure of the actin cytoskeleton and inhibit cell proliferation, motility and angiogenesis, which predominantly depends on its homology to rat RhoGAP. There are many genetic variants in DLC1, which may influence its antitumor efficacy. The rs621554 (IVS19+108C>T) polymorphism is a synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) previously found to be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. In the present study, 453 patients with breast cancer and 330 healthy females were analyzed using a cycling probe method. It was determined that the rs621554 polymorphism of DLC1 was associated with breast cancer susceptibility, with the CC and CT genotypes resulting in a higher risk of developing breast cancer. In regard to clinicopathological variables, it was demonstrated that the CT and CC genotype were associated with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and progesterone receptor status. Patients with the CT and CC genotype had shorter disease-free survival and overall survival rates compared with those with the TT genotype. Additionally, it was demonstrated that the rs621554 polymorphism was correlated with DLC1 expression at the mRNA level. These results suggested that the rs621554 polymorphism is associated with breast cancer susceptibility and prognosis, and may serve as a biomarker for breast cancer development and progression.

Radiosensitization effect of Huaier on breast cancer cells.

Radiotherapy is a critical treatment strategy for breast cancer. However, its wide application is sometimes restricted by radioresistance and radiotoxicity. Trametes robiniophila Murr. (Huaier), an officinal fungus used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), is reported to have multi-biological functions during cancer treatment. Yet, its radiosensitization effects have not been evaluated to date. In the present study, using HTA 2.0 transcriptome microarray assay, Huaier was found to downregulate genes related to the cell cycle, cell division, cell cycle phases and DNA repair. This investigation utilized a colony formation assay to confirm the ability of Huaier to sensitize breast cancer cells to radiotherapy. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence staining and western blotting were used to illustrate the sensitization mechanism. Our findings suggest that Huaier causes G0/G1 arrest through downregulation of cell cycle-regulating proteins in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 cells, prolongs the persistence of γ-H2Ax foci after radiotherapy and interferes with the homologous recombination (HR) pathway of DNA repair by downregulating RAD51. These results suggest that Huaier has the ability to sensitize breast cancer cells to radiotherapy through regulation of the cell cycle and DNA repair pathway. Thus, Huaier may be a promising radiosensitizer for the treatment of breast cancer.

An unprecedented 2D copper(i)-cyanide complex with 20-membered metal rings: the effect of the co-ligand 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one.

A hydrothermal reaction of CuCl2·2H2O, 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one (L) and K3[Fe(CN)6], which is used as an environment friendly cyanide source, produces a two-dimensional copper cyanide complex Cu10(CN)10L4 (1). In the complex, the L ligands act as corner and bridge ligands simultaneously. With the help of the corner ligands, infinite Cu(CN)∞ chains are formed. The chains are further bridged by another type of L ligand forming a 2D layer with a Cu20(CN)18L2 macrocycle, which shows blue photoluminescence related to centered π-π* transitions of the L ligand.

Synthesis and antifungal activity evaluation of new heterocycle containing amide derivatives.

A series of heterocycle containing amide derivatives (1-28) were synthesised by the combination of acyl chlorides (1a, 2a) and heterocyclic/homocyclic ring containing amines, and their in vitro antifungal activity was evaluated against five plant pathogenic fungi, namely Gibberella zeae, Helminthosporium maydis, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Results of antifungal activity analysis indicated that some of the products showed good to excellent antifungal activity, as compound 2 showed excellent activity against G. zeae and R. solani and potent activity against H. maydi, B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum, and compounds 1, 8 and 10 also displayed excellent antifungal potential against H. maydi, B. cinerea and S. sclerotiorum and good activity against R. solani when compared with the standard carbendazim.

53BP1 suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition by downregulating ZEB1 through microRNA-200b/429 in breast cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important mechanism of cancer invasion and metastasis. Although p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) has been implicated in several biological processes, its function in EMT of human cancers has not yet been reported. Here, we show that 53BP1 negatively regulated EMT by modulating ZEB1 through targeting microRNA (miR)-200b and miR-429. Furthermore, 53BP1 promoted ZEB1-mediated upregulation of E-cadherin and also inhibited the expressions of mesenchymal markers, leading to increased migration and invasion in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Consistently, in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, low 53BP1 expression reduced E-cadherin expression, resulting in increased migration and invasion. These effects were reversed by miR-200b and miR-429 inhibition or overexpression. Sections of tumor xenograft model showed increased ZEB1 expression and decreased E-cadherin expression with the downregulation of 53BP1. In 18 clinical tissue samples, expression of 53BP1 was positively correlated with miR-200b and mir-429 and negatively correlated with ZEB1. It was also found that 53BP1 was associated with lymph node metastasis. Taken together, these results suggest that 53BP1 functioned as a tumor suppressor gene by its novel negative control of EMT through regulating the expression of miR-200b/429 and their target gene ZEB1.

Synthesis and antifungal activity of chalcone derivatives.

In the present study, using chalcone as a lead compound, a series of its derivatives (compounds 1-30) were designed and synthesised. Their activity of anti-pathogenic fungi of plants has been evaluated. It is found that these compounds have good antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Helminthosprium maydis, Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani and Gibberella zeae. Among them, the inhibition of growth for compound 30 against S. sclerotiorum showed 89.9%, with the median effective concentrations (EC50) of 15.4 µg mL(-1). The inhibition of growth for compounds 28, 29 and 30 at a concentration of 100 µg mL(-1) against H. maydis is 90.3%, 90.7% and 91.1%, with EC50 of 15.1, 18.3 and 18.1µg mL(-1), respectively.

Design and synthesis of stable cobalt-based weak ferromagnetic framework with large spin canting angle.

It still remains a great challenge to design and construct framework-structured weak ferromagnets with large canting angle which is an effective approach for high performance magnets. According to the strategy of antisymmetric interaction causing spin canting, we report the design of four cobalt compounds, which were tested by X-ray single crystal diffraction, TGA, PXRD, and magnetic measurement. Single-crystal structure analysis reveals that compound 1 has a 2D structure, complex 2 has a 3,4-connected 3D framework, and complex 3 exhibits a 3D net structure with rare 3,5-connected 2-nodal ß-SnF2 topology and the solvent MeOH trapped in the 3D channels as guests. The magnetic property of 3 is spin canting just as designed, with TN about 4.0 K and large canting angle of 14.8°. Highly stable compound 3 sustains its framework in air for more than 12 months, in which the guest MeOH molecules can be replaced by water to form complex 4.