Inhibition of the Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) 3 Signalling Pathway by AG490 in Laryngeal Carcinoma Cells

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) are important in the development of laryngeal carcinomas and are potential novel molecular targets for therapy to improve survival of patients with this cancer. This study was designed to investigate the influence of the janus activated kinase (JAK)/STAT inhibitor AG490 on proliferation and apoptosis of Hep-2 human laryngeal cancer cells and whether there was any inhibition by AG490 of the JAK/STAT3 signalling pathway. AG490 inhibited cell proliferation in dose-and time-dependent manners and induced apoptosis in Hep-2 cells, with the number of apoptotic cells increasing with time. AG490 inhibited G1 to S cell cycle transition and induced G1 cell cycle arrest as well as significantly down-regulating STAT3, phosphorylated STAT3 and survivin in Hep-2 cells. This study showed that AG490 significantly inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis of laryngeal carcinoma cells through down-regulation of STAT3 and survivin, suggesting a potential target for laryngeal carcinoma treatment.

Neural crest lineage segregation: a blueprint for periodontal regeneration

During the recent decade, the periodontal attachment apparatus has become one of the premier areas of the body for the development of novel tissue-engineering strategies. In the present review, we describe a developmental biology approach to characterize current concepts in periodontal regeneration and to discuss strategies for future applications in periodontal therapies. To decipher the developmental make-up of the periodontal region, we have followed the path of the migratory neural crest, since it gives rise to periodontal progenitor tissues, which in turn are subjected to the influence of diverse craniofacial extracellular matrices and peptide growth factors. Based on this developmental perspective, we have conducted a systematic analysis of the factors, progenitor cells, and matrices used in current periodontal tissue-engineering approaches. We propose that the developmental history of a tissue is a highly instructive design template for the discovery of novel bioengineering tools and approaches.

Visual assessment of jaundice in term and late preterm infants

OBJECTIVE

To determine the accuracy of predischarge visual assessment of jaundice for estimating bilirubin concentration and predicting risk of significant neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Well Baby Nursery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

PATIENTS

522 term and late preterm newborns.

INTERVENTIONS

Nurses used a 5-point scale to grade the maximum cephalocaudal extent of jaundice prior to discharge.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

(1) Correlation between jaundice grade and bilirubin concentration. (2) Predictive accuracy of jaundice grade for identifying infants who developed significant hyperbilirubinaemia, defined as a bilirubin level that at any time after birth exceeded or was within 1 mg/dl (17 micromol/l) of the American Academy of Pediatrics-recommended hour-specific phototherapy treatment threshold.

RESULTS

Nurses' assessment of jaundice extent was only moderately correlated with bilirubin concentration and was similar in black and non-black infants (Spearman's rho = 0.45 and 0.55, respectively (p = 0.13)). The correlation was particularly weak among infants <38 weeks' gestational age (rho = 0.29) compared with infants > or = 38 weeks' gestation (rho = 0.53, p = 0.05). Jaundice extent had poor overall accuracy for predicting risk of significant hyperbilirubinaemia (c-statistic = 0.65) but complete absence of jaundice had high sensitivity (95%) and excellent negative predictive value (99%) for ruling out the development of significant hyperbilirubinaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinicians should not use extent of cephalocaudal jaundice progression to estimate bilirubin levels during the birth hospitalisation, especially in late preterm infants. However, the complete absence of jaundice can be used to predict with very high accuracy which infants will not develop significant hyperbilirubinaemia.

Relationship between TH1/TH2 cytokines and immune tolerance in liver transplantation in rats

OBJECTIVE

To explore the relationship between Th1/Th2 cytokine expressions and immune tolerance in rat liver transplantation.

METHODS

Recipients were divided into three groups (each group = 12 rats). The allograft group underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from male Wistar-to-Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The isograft group of SD-to-SD liver transplantation was complemented with a control group of normal male SD rats that had sham operations. We evaluated the 2-week survival rates histological changes, as well as serum and mRNA expression levels of Th1/Th2 cytokines: interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-10 (IL-10).

RESULTS

The 1-week survival in the isograft and allograft groups were 100% and 41.67%, respectively. The 2-week survival rates were 75% and 8.33% (P < .05). Light microscopic inspection revealed severe acute rejection in the allograft but not the isograft group in the first week postoperation. This observation was verified by the cellular morphology under transmission electron microscopy. Serum IFN-gamma (Th1 cytokine) levels (pg/mL) determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the allograft, isograft, and control groups were 386.67 +/- 14.36, 159.83 +/- 16.53, and 87.83 +/- 8.67, respectively; for IL-10 (Th2 cytokine), they were 126.33 +/- 13.10, 288.33 +/- 17.10, and 70.50 +/- 7.23, respectively (P < .05, allograft vs isograft). The semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay showed that expression of IFN-gamma and IL-10 mRNA was similar to that of serum levels. IFN-gamma mRNA was more highly expressed in the allograft group and IL-10 mRNA, in the isograft group (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

The dynamic equilibrium of Th1/Th2 cytokines is critically involved in immune tolerance. The deviation of Th1 to Th2 may be one mechanism of immune tolerance.

GPR54 polymorphisms in Chinese girls with central precocious puberty

AIMS

The GPR54 gene has been proved to be important in the process of puberty onset, yet no association study has been performed to evaluate the effect of polymorphisms in the gene on central precocious puberty (CPP). This study was designed to scan for polymorphisms in the GPR54 gene and to investigate the relationships between the genotypes of GPR54 and the disease.

METHODS

272 Chinese Han girls diagnosed to be CPP patients were recruited as the case group and 288 unrelated normal Chinese Han girls as the control group. The whole GPR54 gene was directly sequenced in randomly selected case samples, and the polymorphisms identified were genotyped by ligase detection reaction in both groups. Distributions of the polymorphisms and haplotypes were calculated for statistical evaluation.

RESULTS

Totally 6 polymorphisms were found in sequencing, one of which is a nonsynonymous mutation, while genotyping declared that another SNP located in the promoter region was statistically related to the disease (p = 0.037).

CONCLUSION

One polymorphism in GPR54 gene might be correlated with some cases of CPP, likely by changes in expression of the receptor, but the moderate p value and the lack of functional data make it hard to confirm the correlation. Further studies on the polymorphisms are needed for the exact mechanism.

Expression and characterization of a Rana pipiens amelogenin protein

Amelogenin, the major protein of developing enamel matrix, controls enamel crystal growth via unique supermolecular features. While much has been contributed to our understanding of mammalian amelogenin function, little is known about how amelogenin and its unique physico-chemical features have evolved among vertebrates. Here we report, for the first time, amphibian amelogenin recombinant protein expression and characterization in Rana pipiens. In order to characterize R. pipiens amelogenin, the newly discovered amelogenin coding sequence was amplified, subcloned, and expressed in Eshcerichia coli. Our newly generated R. pipiens amelogenin-specific antisera resolved a major 19-kDa band on western blots of frog tooth extracts and revealed an enamel organ tissue-specific localization pattern using immunohistochemistry. Using mass spectroscopy, a single major compound with a molecular weight of 21.6 kDa was detected, which corresponded to the amino acid sequence-based molecular weight prediction of the His fusion recombinant protein. Dynamic light scattering studies resolved 41-nm radius subunits compared with 14-nm radius subunits from mouse recombinant amelogenin controls. Transmission electron microscopy revealed defined spherical subunits in R. pipiens matrix self-assembly in contrast with a homogeneous 'stippled' matrix in mouse amelogenin matrix self-assembly. Our data suggest that R. pipiens amelogenin is distinguished from mammalian amelogenins by a number of unique physico-chemical properties which may be related to specific modes of crystal formation in frog enamel.

Identifying newborns at risk of significant hyperbilirubinaemia: a comparison of two recommended approaches

AIMS

To compare the predictive performance of clinical risk factor assessment and pre-discharge bilirubin measurement as screening tools for identifying infants at risk of developing significant neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia (post-discharge total serum bilirubin (TSB) >95th centile).

METHODS

Retrospective cohort study of term and near term infants born in an urban community teaching hospital in Pennsylvania (1993-97). A clinical risk factor scoring system was developed and its predictive performance compared to a pre-discharge TSB expressed as a risk zone on a bilirubin nomogram. Main outcome measures were prediction model discrimination, range of predicted probabilities, and sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and likelihood ratios for various positivity criteria.

RESULTS

The clinical risk factor scoring system developed included birth weight, gestational age <38 weeks, oxytocin use during delivery, vacuum extraction, breast feeding, and combination breast and bottle feeding. The pre-discharge bilirubin risk zone had better discrimination (c = 0.83; 95% CI 0.80 to 0.86) than the clinical risk factor score (c = 0.71; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.76) and predicted risk of significant hyperbilirubinaemia as high as 59% compared with a maximum of 44% for the clinical risk factor score. Neither the risk score nor the pre-discharge TSB risk zone predicted the outcome with > or =0.98 sensitivity without significantly compromising specificity (0.13 and 0.21, respectively). Multi-level clinical risk factor scores and TSB risk zones produced likelihood ratios of 0.15-3.25 and 0.05-9.43, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The pre-discharge bilirubin expressed as a risk zone on an hour specific bilirubin nomogram is more accurate and generates wider risk stratification than a clinical risk factor score.

Exercise pre-conditioning reduces brain damage in ischemic rats that may be associated with regional angiogenesis and cellular overexpression of neurotrophin

There is increasing evidence that physical activity is associated with a decreased stroke risk. The purpose of this study was to determine if exercise could also reduce brain damage in rats subjected to transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion, and if the reduced brain injury is associated with angiogenesis as well as cellular expression of the nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in regions supplied by the MCA. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n=36) exercised 30 min each day for 3 weeks on a treadmill on which repetitive locomotor movement was required. Then, stroke was induced by a 2-h MCA occlusion using an intraluminal filament, followed by 48 h of reperfusion. In addition to the two exercised groups of animals with or without MCA occlusion, there were two other groups of animals, with or without MCA occlusion, housed for the same duration and used as non-exercised controls. Brain damage in ischemic rats was evaluated by neurologic deficits and infarct volume. Exercise preconditioned and non-exercised brains were processed for immunocytochemistry to quantify the number of microvessels or NGF- and BDNF-labeled cells. Pre-ischemic motor activity significantly (P<0.01) reduced neurologic deficits and infarct volume in the frontoparietal cortex and dorsolateral striatum. Cellular expressions of NGF and BDNF were significantly (P<0.01) increased in cortex (neuron) and striatum (glia) of rats under the exercise condition. Significant (P<0.01) increases in microvessel density were found in striatum. Physical activity reduced stroke damage. The reduced brain damage may be attributable to angiogenesis and neurotrophin overexpression in brain regions supplied by the MCA following exercise.

Motor balance and coordination training enhances functional outcome in rat with transient middle cerebral artery occlusion

The goal of this study was to determine if relatively complex motor training on Rota-rod involving balance and coordination plays an essential role in improving motor function in ischemic rats, as compared with simple locomotor exercise on treadmill. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats with (n=40) or without (n=40) ischemia were trained under each of three conditions: (1) motor balance and coordination training on Rota-rod; (2) simple exercise on treadmill; and (3) non-trained controls. Motor function was evaluated by a series of tests (foot fault placing, parallel bar crossing, rope and ladder climbing) before and at 14 or 28 days after training procedures in both ischemic and normal animals. Infarct volume in ischemic animals was determined with Nissl staining. Compared with both treadmill exercised and non-trained animals, Rota-rod-trained animals with or without ischemia significantly (P<0.01) improved motor performance of all tasks except for foot fault placing after 14 days of training, with normal rats having better performance. Animals trained for up to 28 days on the treadmill did not show significantly improved function. With regard to foot fault placing task, performance on foot placing was improved in ischemic rats across the three measurements at 0, 14 and 28 days regardless of training condition, while the normal group reached their best performance at the beginning of measurement. No significant differences in infarct volume were found in rats trained either with Rota-rod (47+/-4%; mean+/-S.E.), treadmill (45+/-5%) or non-exercised control (45+/-3%). In addition, no obvious difference could be detected in the location of the damage which included the dorso-lateral portion of the neostriatum and the frontoparietal cortex, the main regions supplied by the middle cerebral artery. The data suggest that complex motor training rather than simple exercise effectively improves functional outcome.

Analysis of polymorphisms affecting immune complex handling in systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a polygenic disorder of dysregulated inflammation. Numerous specific candidate genes have been identified and most relate to the handling of immune complexes or antigen presentation. This is consistent with the classic finding of immune complex deposition in affected end organs. We wished to examine combinatorial effects of polymorphic variants of genes involved in immune complex clearance in susceptibility to lupus.

METHODS

This study examined the occurrence of polymorphisms in genes which encode proteins known to be involved in immune complex handling and clearance. Each polymorphic variant of a complement protein (C2, mannose binding protein and C4), complement receptor (CR1) or Fc receptor (FcgammaRIIA and FcgammaRIIIA) gene is known to affect function adversely. One hundred and sixty SLE patients and 212 control subjects were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction methods.

RESULTS

We found an increasing association of SLE with increasing numbers of gene defects. Combinations of severe defects in FcgammaRIIA and FcgammaRIIIA were particularly deleterious for both African American and Caucasian patients, even though only one defective variant was individually statistically significantly associated with SLE.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study suggest that genes may interact in ways that either synergize or modify the effect of a single genetic effect and imply that association studies must be interpreted within the genetic background of the populations.

CP27 affects viability, proliferation, attachment and gene expression in embryonic fibroblasts

CP27 is a gene that has been cloned from an E11 early embryonic library and has been suggested to mediate early organogenesis (Diekwisch et al., 1999, Gene 235, 19). We have hypothesized that CP27 exhibits its effects on organogenesis by affecting individual cell function. Based on the CP27 expression pattern we have selected the CP27 expressing embryonic fibroblast cell line BALB/c 3T3 to determine the effects of CP27 on cell function. CP27 loss of function strategies were performed by adding 5, 12.5 or 25 micro g/ml anti-CP27 antibody to cultured BALB/c 3T3 cells and comparing the results to controls in which identical concentrations of rabbit serum were added to the culture medium. Other controls included an antibody against another extracellular matrix protein amelogenin (negative control) and anti-CP27 antibodies directed against other areas of the CP27 molecule (positive control). Following cell culture, cell viability, apoptosis, cell proliferation, cell shape, cellular attachment and fibronectin matrix production were assayed using MTT colourimetric assay, BrdU staining, morphometry, immunostaining and western blot analysis. Block of CP27 function using an antibody strategy resulted in the following significant changes: (i) reduced viability, (ii) increased number of apoptotic cells, (iii) reduced proliferation, (iv) alterations in cell shape, (v) loss of attachment, and (vi) reduction in fibronectin matrix production. There was also a redistribution in fibronectin matrix organization demonstrated by immunohistochemistry. We conclude that CP27 plays an important role in the maintance of normal cell function and that CP27 block leads to significant changes in cellular behaviour.

[Surgical management of subglottic carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the surgical management and evaluate the effect on patients with subglottic cancer.

METHODS

Fourteen cases with subglottic carcinoma were treated surgically from 1989 to 1998. There were T1-2N0 lesions in 5 cases, T3N0-2 lesions in 3 cases and T4N0-1 lesions in 6 cases. Eleven cases underwent partial laryngectomy and three cases underwent total laryngectomy. The defects of larynx were reconstructed by using uni-pedicled or bi-pedicled stemohyoid myofascial flap, platysma myocutaneous flap, sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap, thyroid perichondral flap and epiglottis flap accordingly. Unilateral neck dissection was performed on 4 cases and bilateral on one.

RESULTS

The function of phonation had been restored in all cases except in 3 patients who underwent total laryngectomy. Seven out eleven(63.6%) were decannulated. The swallowing function was restored in all patients. In all cases the 3 and 5 year survival rates were 78.6%(11/14) and 63.6% (7/11), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The conservative surgery can be used for the majority of the subglottic carcinoma if the lesions were entirely resected. The proficiency in surgical methods is crucial for the preservation of laryngeal function.

Assessment of concordance among genealogical reconstructions from various mtDNA segments in three species of Pacific salmon (genus Oncorhynchus)

Seven segments of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), comprising 97% of the mitochondrial genome, were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and examined for restriction site variation using 13 restriction endonucleases in three species of Pacific salmon: pink (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), chum (O. keta) and sockeye (O. nerka) salmon. The distribution of variability across the seven mtDNA segments differed substantially among species. Little similarity in the distribution of variable restriction sites was found even between the mitochondrial genomes of the even- and odd-year broodlines of pink salmon. Significantly different levels of nucleotide diversity were detected among three groups of genes: six NADH-dehydrogenase genes had the highest; two rRNA genes had the lowest; and a group that included genes for ATPase and cytochrome oxidase subunits, the cytochrome b gene, and the control region had intermediate levels of nucleotide diversity. Genealogies of mtDNA haplotypes were reconstructed for each species, based on the variation in all mtDNA segments. The contributions of variation within different segments to resolution of the genealogical trees were compared within each species. With the exception of sockeye salmon, restriction site data from different genome segments tended to produce rather different trees (and hence rather different genealogies). In the majority of cases, genealogical information in different segments of mitochondrial genome was additive rather than congruent. This finding has a relevance to phylogeographic studies of other organisms and emphasizes the importance of not relying on a limited segment of the mtDNA genome to derive a phylogeographic structure.

[Clinical study of the sentinel lymph node of patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the methods of detecting the sentinel lymph node of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas and its predictive value in the cervical metastasis of the carcinoma.

METHODS

In 29 patients who suffered from laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma with NO neck, the patent blue was injected into the surrounding tissue of the tumor during the operation to identify the sentinel lymph nodes. The sentinel lymph nodes were dyed blue. The frozen histopathology was done during the operation, the lymph nodes at the ipsilateral side of the neck were dissected completely, and the routine histopathology was done as the gold standard to study the predictive value of the sentinel lymph node in the metastasis of the cervical node.

RESULTS

Of 29 patients, 28 patients' sentinel lymph nodes were detected successfully during operation. There was an average of 2.5 lymph nodes per side per patient. Most of the sentinel lymph nodes were in the level II and level III regions of the ipsilateral side of the neck, and there were bilateral sentinel nodes in patients suffered from superglottic carcinoma. Three patients' sentinel lymph nodes were found to be positive in the frozen inspection, and the routine histopathology confirmed the result. The micrometastasis rate was 10.7% (3/28). There were no metastatic lymph nodes found in patients who were negative for the sentinel lymph nodes during the operative frozen histopathology. The predicted value of the sentinel lymph nodes to the cervical lymph node metastasis was 100 per cent.

CONCLUSION

There is a very important predicted value of sentinel lymph nodes in the cervical metastasis of patients suffered from laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas. It could reduce the neck dissection in patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinomas.

Utilization of MO6-G3 immortalized odontoblast cells in studies regarding dentinogenesis

Tooth formation is the result of reciprocal instructive interactions between oral epithelium and cranial neural-crest-derived ectomesenchymal tissues. These interactions lead to the cytodifferentiation of highly specialized matrix-forming cell types, the ameloblast, odontoblast, and cementoblast, that produce the mineralized tissues enamel, dentin, and cementum, respectively. Our laboratory has been developing immortalized dental cell lines representative of these various cell types to facilitate studies on gene regulation, cell differentiation, matrix formation, and mineralization. Odontoblasts are solely responsible for the synthesis and secretion of the dentin extracellular matrix bilayer that consists of non-mineralized predentin and mineralized dentin. The mouse immortalized MO6-G3 cell line expresses the major matrix proteins associated with the odontoblast phenotype, producing a matrix that is capable of mineralization. This cell line serves as a useful tool in studies designed to explore the various processes of dentinogenesis. In this paper, we present studies using the mouse odontoblast cell line MO6-G3 as examples of the various research applications. Studies highlighted are: in vitro promoter studies investigating the tooth-specific gene regulation of the major non-collagenous dentin matrix protein, dentin sialophosphoprotein; regulation of tertiary dentin formation by cytokines, such as transforming growth factor-Beta 1; and the utilization of dentally relevant cells in dental material biocompatibility testing.

[Preservative surgery of medial wall pyriform sinus cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To study the surgical methods and functional outcome of preservative surgery for medial wall pyriform sinus cancer.

METHODS

Seventy-one patients with medial wall pyriform sinus cancer, who were treated surgically between 1985 and 1997, were reviewed. Of the 71 cases, 49 underwent preservative surgery, and 22 total laryngectomy. Preservative surgical procedure was defined as follows: 1. Extent of resection: Supraglottic horizontal partial laryngectomy and resection of medial wall of pyriform sinus were performed in patients without fixation of the true vocal cord, and the section extended to paraglottic space, partial lateral wall of pyriform sinus, preepigottic space, superior-posterior of thyroid cartilage in those with restrained vocal cord motility. Supracricoid hemilaryngopharyngectomy and resection of medical wall and partial lateral wall of pyriform sinus were practiced in those with fixed hemilarynx. Cricoid ring and cervical esophagus were removed partially if the pyriform sinus apex was involved. 2. Reconstruction: Larynx: the remains of epiglottis, perichondrium of thyroid cartilage, the infrahyoid muscular fascia, and the platysmal flap were utilized to restore the defects of larynx. Pyriform sinus: Suturing the remaining pharyngeal mucosa directly to cover the wound if the defect was relatively small. For the large defect produced by extended resections, the pectoralis major myocutaneous flap and deltopectoral flap were used. 3. Surgical treatment of cervical lymphaden: Sixty five out of the 71 cases (91.5%) underwent neck dissection. Of which ipsilateral neck dissection were done in 39 cases, and bilateral neck dissection in 26 cases. 4. All patients received postoperative radiotherapy with doses of 60-75 Gy.

RESULTS

In the group of preservative surgery the 3- and 5-year survival rates were 63.4% and 49.6% respectively, whereas those in the total laryngectomy group were 52.4% and 42.4% respectively. Of the 49 cases with preservative surgery, 71.4% (35/49) had all laryngeal functions restored and 28.6% (14/49) partially restored.

CONCLUSION

Despite the fact that the medial wall pyriform sinus cancer tends to have laryngeal invasion, preservative surgery can be practiced for the majority of the cases with the lesions entirely removed.

[Clinical studies on sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap for cervical tracheal reconstruction]

OBJECTIVE

To introduce the experience of repairing the defect of cervical trachea wall by using the sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap after the anterior or posterior wall of cervical trachea was invaded by cervical neoplasm.

METHOD

Between 1989 to 1998 the sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap was applied in 12 patients with different diseases, among which 3 cases were thyroid carcinoma 5 cases were laryngeal carcinoma, 4 cases were cervical esophageal carcinoma.

RESULT

The operation was successful. 12 patients were decannuated and had normal exercise tolerance. The time from reconstruction to decannulation was ranging from 20 days to 6 months.

CONCLUSION

The sternocleidomastoid myoperiosteal flap is an ideal transplant for cervical tracheal reconstruction.

[Measurement of microvessel density in laryngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance]

OBJECTIVE

To determine the microvessel density (MVD) in laryngeal carcinoma and its clinical significance.

METHOD

Thirty-eight tumor specimens were selected from laryngeal cancer patients from January, 1994 to March, 1996. Histological sections of the tumors were stained immunohistochemically for factor VIII. Using light microscopy, we counted microvessels per 400 x field in the most active areas of tumor angiogenesis.

RESULT

1. The tumor blood vessels, composed of only one layer of endothelium were mainly distributed heterogeneously in the interstitial tissue of laryngeal carcinoma with irregular lumen, poorly developed structure. 2. The MVD in the cancer tissues were statistically higher than that in peritumoral tissues (P < 0.01). 3. The MVD in the cancer tissues in group of patients with metastasis to cervical lymphonodes were statistically higher than in group without metastasis (P < 0.01), the MVD in the cancer tissues in group of advanced cases (III, IV stages) were statistically higher than that in group of early cases (I, II stages, P < 0.01). 4. There was no statistically difference in MVD in the cancer tissue between supraglottic and glottic laryngeal carcinoma patients (P > 0.05). 5. There was no statistically difference in MVD in the cancer tissue among the G1, G2 and G3 group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The laryngeal cancer blood vessels have some characteristics that don't appear in normal vessels. It is suggested that tumor angiogenesis can promote tumor growth and metastasis and MVD may be a new prognostic indicator of laryngeal carcinoma.

Developmental regulation of dentin sialophosphoprotein during ameloblast differentiation: a potential enamel matrix nucleator

The two major dentin matrix proteins, dentin sialoprotein and dentin phosphoprotein have been shown to be expressed as a single large transcript termed dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP). These non-collagenous matrix proteins, identified biochemically by their unique physical-chemical properties, are specific cleavage products of a large parent acidic phosphorylated protein (pI 4.0). Previous studies have shown expression of dentin sialoprotein at the protein level by ameloblasts. The purpose of this study was to determine the temporal-spatial pattern of DSPP expression during amelogenesis. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed on sections of developing mouse molars. These data were correlated with RT-PCR analysis of in vitro enamel organ epithelium monolayer cell cultures enriched for ameloblasts. Our data indicates initial expression of the DSPP transcripts and protein during early ameloblast differentiation prior to the secretory phase when the majority of the enamel matrix is formed. Ameloblasts appear to tightly down-regulate DSPP transcription as enamel matrix formation is up-regulated. These data demonstrate DSPP expression during amelogenesis is under highly controlled developmental regulation. Therefore, DSPP may have a primary role in the initial mineralization events of both enamel and dentin, acting as a potential nucleator of hydroxyapatite crystal formation.

[Prognostic significance of CD57+ cell level and pTNM staying system in patients with laryngeal cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the prognostic value of the pTNM clinical staying system, as well as the CD57+ cells level in peripheral blood samples of the patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

METHOD

The CD57+ cells level of peripheral blood was determined with SAP method in 34 patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 16 normal subjects. The pTNM clinical stage was T1-2 in 13, T3-4 in 21; pN+ in 10, pN0 in 24; supraglottis in 8, glottis in 23; hypoglottis in 3; pathologic differentiation G1 in 11, G2,3 in 23.

RESULT

The CD57+ cells level significantly increased (pN+ vs. pNo). In the 12nd month actual survival were significantly different (T1,2 vs. T3,4, pN0 vs. pN+, G1 vs G2,3, supraglottis vs. glottis and hypoglottis, CD57+ > or = 15% vs. CD57+ < 15%). In the 24th month and 36th month actual survival were significantly different (pN0 vs. pN+, G1 vs G2,3, supraglottis. glottis and hypoglottis, CD57+ > or = 15% vs. CD57+ < 15%). In the 48th month actual survival were significantly different only (pN0 vs. pN+, supraglottis vs. glottis and hypo glottis, CD57+ > or = 15% vs. CD57+ < 15%).

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that the assessment of pTNM system and the CD57+ cells level have significance for prognosis of patients with laryngeal carcinoma.

[The clinical study of tongue flaps repairing after resecting pharyngeal neoplasm and laryngeal neoplasm]

OBJECTIVE

To study the repair methods of the defect after resecting pharyngeal neoplasm and laryngeal neoplasm.

METHODS

Four kinds of tongue flap, such as 1/3 tongue flap, 1/2 tongue base flap, tongue base flap and transverse tongue flap were devised and applied in 15 patients with pharyngeal neoplasm and laryngeal neoplasm.

RESULTS

These tongue flaps were alive in all patients. The wound of 13 patients healed in I stage. Two patients dehiscenced because of infection and healed after treatment. All the patients deglutited well. One-year, 3-year, disease-free survive rate were 92.9% (13/14), 72.7% (8/11) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Tongue flaps are obtained easily, with enough blood flow, adapted to pharyngeal environment, easily alive and low complication in repairing the pharyngeal defect. We think that these tongue flaps should be applied in clinic.

[Histological study of the local-regional invasion of pyriform sinus carcinoma]

OBJECTIVE

In order to offer the basis for the operation of the pyriform sinus carcinoma, the local-regional invasion patterns of the pyriform sinus carcinoma were investigated.

METHODS

Twenty-six surgical specimens obtained from patients who undergone laryngopharyngectomy were subjected to a whole organ section study.

RESULTS

Tumors located in the lateral wall of the pyriform sinus spread mainly towards the lateral wall of the hypopharynx. Tumors located in the inner wall of the pyriform sinus spread mainly towards the larynx and opposite side pyriform sinus, the paraglottic space and thyroid cartilage were particularly frequent invaded. It was rare of the invading of the cricoid cartilage. The invasion of the epiglottis and preepiglottic space across the midline had not been found. There were two invading routines, the paraglottic space and preepiglottic space. The invasion of the paraglottic space was through the aryepiglottic fold and the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage. The invading of the preepiglottic space was through the aryepiglottic fold and the upper part of the inner surface of the thyroid cartilage.

CONCLUSIONS

The invading of the preepiglottic space was not the contraindication of the partial laryngectomy. It is practicable to preserve the laryngeal function in most of the patients while tumors located on the lateral or inner wall of the pyriform sinus. There was a tendency to the invading to the contralateral side in the inner wall of the pyriform or postcricoidarytenoid region. Attention should be paid to the submucosal spreading in the postcricoidarytenoid region.