Serum overexpression of microRNA-10b in patients with bone metastatic primary breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Bone metastasis is a major complication of advanced breast cancer. The present prospective case-control study investigated the involvement of microRNA (miR)-10b in the development of bone metastasis arising from primary breast carcinoma. METHODS: Serum miR-10b concentrations were determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 122 patients with breast cancer, with or without bone metastases, and 59 age-matched healthy control subjects. RESULTS: Serum miR-10b concentrations were significantly higher in patients with bone metastases than in patients without bone metastases or control subjects. Serum miR-10b had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the presence of bone metastases of 0.769, with 64.8% sensitivity and 69.5% specificity. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that serum miR-10b may be a useful biomarker for the identification of bone metastatic breast cancer.

Portal vein embolization with lipiodol for treatment of HCC--an experimental study.

A suspension of iodized oil and anticancer agent was injected into the portal veins of 20 rats with hepatic carcinoma. Oil drops were seen in tumor cell lines, small blood vessels inside the cancer nest, the sinusoid, and the central veins. After injection of oil suspension through the portal vein the distal small vessels were embolized and necrotic changes of tumor cells and their subordinate normal liver cells were observed. The results obtained in this experiment provided a good anatomical and pathological basis for treating liver cancers with the portal vein embolization with chemotherapeutic agents.

The significance of anatomical variations of hepatic artery and multiple arterial supplies in embolization of liver tumors.

A new therapeutic measure-step by step-embolization of every feeding vessel in dealing with liver cancer has been proposed on the base of the following criteria after reviewing the coeliac and superior mesenteric arteriographies in 100 cases of liver cancer. The emphasis is put on: 1. Anatomic variation of hepatic arteries. 2. Multiple feeding vessels, and 3. The importance of the presence of stenosis after embolization and the formation of collateral circulation.

Hepatic carcinoma. The possibility of transcatheter chemoembolization through the portal vein.

A suspension of iodized oil and anticancer agent was injected into the portal veins of 20 rats with hepatic carcinoma and of 20 normal rats to observe its distribution in the liver and the effect on cancer tissue and normal cells. Microscopic and transmission electron microscopic examinations were carried out. Oil drops were seen in tumor cell lines, small blood vessels inside the cancer nest, the sinusoids, and the central veins. More oil drops were found in the peripheral parts of the tumor than in the central part. The distal small vessels were embolized with necrotic change of tumor cells and their subordinate normal liver cells. We conclude that portal vein part takes in the blood supply of liver cancer and tumor cell necrosis can be achieved after administration of iodized oil and anticancer agent mixture through the portal vein. Hence transcatheter treatment through the portal vein may be helpful as a supplement to intraarterial treatment of primary liver cancer and transcatheter embolization via the portal vein to reinforce the intraarterial therapy may be recommended. This procedure may cause necrosis of normal liver cells and care must be taken in clinical application.

[Effect of Rhodiola kirilowii (Regel.) Maxim on preventing high altitude reactions. A comparison of cardiopulmonary function in villagers at various altitudes].

The highland villagers are subject to abnormalities in their cardiopulmonary function as they move from 2500m altitude to 4475m altitude areas. Rhodiola kirilowii can efficiently protect the villagers from the above said mountain reaction.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization with anticancer drug in iodized oil for primary hepatic carcinoma.

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization using a suspension of anticancer drug in iodized oil combined with Gelfoam embolization was performed in 85 patients with advanced primary hepatic carcinoma. Long-term retention of iodized oil in the tumor was observed in 90% of the cases, and changes in tumor size were observable by abdominal X-ray film on follow-up studies. There was a decrease of tumor size in all cases and the overall 1-year survival rate was 43%. In tumors whose diameter was less than 20 cm and in patients without portal vein thrombosis the survival rate was nearly 60%. Combined treatment with anticancer drug in iodized oil and Gelfoam embolization of the proper hepatic artery was superior to use of the suspension alone. There was also better detection of small cancer nodules by the suspension as compared to conventional angiography.