Abstract 1545: IGF2BP2 over-expression induces epithelial mesenchymal transition & promotes tumor progression in ESCC cells

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a common form of malignant tumor with high morbidity & mortality worldwide. IGF2BP2/ IMP2 (insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA binding protein 2) belongs to a large family of RBPs (RNA binding proteins) that coordinates the export, trafficking, precise localization and translation of RNA in cells. Analysis of TCGA data (results from GEPIA, http://gepia.cancer-pku.cn/) showed that IGF2BP2 over-expressed in ESCA and many other types of human cancers. However, whether and how IGF2BP2 affects EC progression is still unclear. In this study, the expression of IGF2BP2 in esophageal squamous cancer cell lines and normal esophageal epithelial cells(Het) were investigated to explore the relationship between IGF2BP2 and epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT)in the ESCC. Methods: IGF2BP2 was knocked down in the Kyse150 cells by siRNA while upregulated by infection lentivirus with IGF2BP2 cDNA in the Eca109 cells. Then Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression of IGF2BP2, p38, P-p38, ERK and EMT markers in these cells. Results: In this study, the results showed that the expression of the epithelial marker, E-cadherin protein increased and the mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug protein decreased after IGF2BP2 knockdown in Kyse150 cells. Meanwhile, the EMT features were promoted in the Eca109 cell after IGF2BP2 upregulation, shown as a reduction in epithelial marker E-cadherin with an increase in mesenchymal markers: N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug. Results from Western blotting showed that IGF2BP2 protein expression was independent of p38 and ERK protein levels. Conclusion: These data indicated that IGF2BP2 could promote the process of EMT in ESCC cells and might serve as a new therapeutic target for the treatment of esophageal cancer. Keywords: IGF2BP2; esophageal cancer; EMT

Citation Format: Pei Li, Xuan-Yu HU, Xing-Ge Liu, Bei-Bei Sha, Ying DU, Ping CHEN. IGF2BP2 over-expression induces epithelial mesenchymal transition & promotes tumor progression in ESCC cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 1545.

[Research progress of mast cell activation-related receptors and their functions]

Mast cells are widely distributed in various parts of the body, especially in the mucosal surface between the body and the external environment. Mast cell is one of the important immune cells and plays important roles in innate immunity, adaptive immunity and immune regulation. Previous researches have shown that excessive activation of mast cells is closely related to the development of allergic and inflammatory diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, acute and chronic itching. Mast cells infiltrate into the inflammation site and release various allergic mediators during the occurrence and development of these diseases. Therefore, termination of mast cell activation can be one of the effective methods for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory diseases, and receptors related to mast cell activation are potential targets for the development of anti-allergic drugs. There are many receptors related to mast cell activation, and the effects mediated by different receptors varied from each other. In the recent years, new mast cell receptors are being discovered, but there are not many literatures discussing the possible functions of these newly discovered receptors. This review aims to summarize the receptors involved in mast cell activation and classify related receptors according to their effects.

[Design and application of an oral health self-efficacy scale for patients with dental implants]

PURPOSE

To design an oral health self-efficacy scale for patients with dental implants and to evaluate their reliability and validity.

METHODS

Based on literature review, we designed and developed a self-efficacy energy table that met the characteristics of implant patients. The scale consisted of 16 items which were divided into 3 dimensions, including self-efficacy of dental implant surgery, self-efficacy of postoperative supportive care, and self-efficacy of oral hygiene habits. The reliability and validity of the scale were evaluated by factor analysis in 102 outpatients with dental implants using SPSS 13.3 software package.

RESULTS

A total of 4 common factors were extracted from the scale, and the cumulative contribution rate was 75.35%. The overall Cronbach's α coefficient of the scale was 0.910, and the retest correlation coefficient was 0.882, which belonged to high-signal scale.

CONCLUSIONS

The oral health self-efficacy energy scale for implant patients with independent design has high reliability and validity. It can provide targeted guidance for oral health education for implant patients and improve the success rate of implant surgery.

[Time characteristics of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province]

Objective To investigate the time distribution characteristics and the epidemic trends of imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province. Methods The malaria case records and epidemiological history data of Yunnan Province were collected, and the local infection cases were excluded. The data were statistical analyzed. Results The imported malaria cases had a significantly seasonal periodicity (Q = 26.574, P < 0.05) and epidemic trends (Q = 35.487, P < 0.05). The imported peak was in May, while February was the lowest month of imported cases, and the difference was significant (Z = -2.619, P < 0.05). The simple seasonal prediction model was the best model (R² = 0.677, BIC = 4.867) for forecast while the residual sequence was white noise (Q = 14.226, P > 0.05). By using the model to predict the cases in January, February and March of 2016, the number (95% CI) were 29 (7-50), 22 (0-44) and 31 (8-54), and the actual number of imported malaria cases were 29, 24 and 38 cases respectively and all cases were included in the 95% CI. Conclusion The imported malaria cases in Yunnan Province had a significantly seasonal periodicity and epidemic trends, and the established model has good prediction on the recent cases.

Circulating MicroRNAs as Novel Diagnostic Biomarkers for Very Early-onset (≤40 years) Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE

Very early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) is a great challenge in cardiovascular medicine throughout the world, especially regarding its early diagnosis. This study explored whether circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) could be used as potential biomarkers for patients with very early-onset CAD.

METHODS

We performed an initial screening of miRNA expression using RNA isolated from 20 patients with angiographically documented very early-onset CAD and 20 age- and sex-matched normal controls. For further confirmation, we prospectively examined the miRNAs selected from 40 patients with very early-onset CAD and 40 angiography-normal controls.

RESULTS

A total of 22 overexpressed miRNAs and 22 underexpressed miRNAs were detected in the initial screening. RT-qPCR analysis of the miRNAs obtained from the initial screening revealed that four miRNAs including miR-196-5p, miR-3163-3p, miR-145-3p, and miR-190a-5p exhibited significantly decreased expression in patients compared with that in controls (P<0.05). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for these miRNAs were 0.824 (95% CI, 0.731-0.917; P<0.001), 0.758 (95% CI, 0.651-0.864; P<0.001), 0.753 (95% CI, 0.643-0.863; P<0.001), and 0.782 (95% CI, 0.680-0.884; P<0.001), respectively, in the validation set.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is an advanced study to report about four serum miRNAs (miR-196-5p, miR-3163-3p, miR-145-3p, and miR-190a-5p) that could be used as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of very early-onset CAD.

[Over-expression of CCL21 up-regulates the antigen presentation-related genes of CK8/18 positive thymic epithelial cells in patients with myasthenia gravis]

OBJECTIVE

To identify the distribution of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) in the thymus of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and explore the effects of up-regulation of CCL21 on the expressions of antigen presentation-related genes in cytokeratin 8/18 (CK8/18) positive thymic epithelial cells (TECs) after transfected with CCL21 genes.

METHODS

The expressions and distributions of CK8/18 and CCL21 in the thymus tissue of MG patients were detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of CCL21, CCL19 and their receptor chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 7 (CCR7) in the thymus tissue of MG patients were determined by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Primary cultured CK8/18⁺ TECs were transfected with pCMV-CCL21, and the relative mRNA expressions of function-associated genes (CD80, ICAM-1, CD86, HLA-DR, HLA-A) in CK8/18⁺ TECs before and after the transfection were investigated by qRT-PCR.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical results showed that the number of CK8/18 positive cells in the hyperplastic thymus tissues of MG patients was significantly more than that in the normal controls, and the protein expression of CCL21 was also much higher in the hyperplastic thymus tissues. The qRT-PCR showed that the expressions of CCL21 and CCR7 mRNA increased significantly in hyperplastic thymus tissues of MG patients compared with those in normal controls, while there was no difference in the expression of CCL19. Furthermore, CK8/18 positive cells were found mainly located in cortico-medullary junction and medulla area. The relative mRNA expression levels of HLA-A, HLA-DR, ICAM and CD80 rose significantly in CK8/18⁺ TECs after transfected with pCMV-CCL21.

CONCLUSION

The over-expression of CCL21 could increased the expressions of antigen presentation-related genes in CK8/18⁺ TECs in MG patients.

Compound heterozygous mutations in TTC7A cause familial multiple intestinal atresias and severe combined immunodeficiency

Familial multiple intestinal atresias is an autosomal recessive disease with or without combined immunodeficiency. In the last year, several reports have described mutations in the gene TTC7A as causal to the disease in different populations. However, exact correlation between different genotypes and various phenotypes are not clear. In this study, we report identification of novel compound heterozygous mutations in TTC7A gene in a Malay girl with familial multiple intestinal atresias and severe combined immunodeficiency (MIA-SCID) by whole exome sequencing. We found two mutations in TTC7A: one that destroyed a putative splicing acceptor at the junction of intron 17/exon 18 and one that introduced a stop codon that would truncate the last two amino acids of the encoded protein. Reviewing the recent reports on TTC7A mutations reveals correlation between the position and nature of the mutations with patient survival and clinical manifestations. Examination of public databases also suggests carrier status for healthy individuals, making a case for population screening on this gene, especially in populations with suspected frequent founder mutations.

Impact of nursing home residence on hospital epidemiology of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a perspective from Asia

In a Singapore hospital practising meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) admission screening, the relative risk for MRSA colonization for those admitted from nursing homes was 6.89 (95% confidence interval: 5.74-8.26; 41% of 190 vs 6.0% of 14,849). However, the MRSA burden on admission attributable to nursing home residence was low (6.9%). Risk factors independently associated with MRSA colonization in patients admitted from nursing homes were previous hospital admissions, broken skin, prior use of antibiotics and Chinese ethnicity. Low rates of nursing home use means that the overall impact of nursing home residence on MRSA in our hospital is low.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in patients with known or suspected breast malignancy: Correlation between apparent diffusion coefficient and histopathologic diagnoses

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Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important imaging modality for evaluating patients at high risk for breast malignancy. However, the role and utility of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in breast MRI has not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and histopathologic diagnoses in benign and malignant breast pathologies as well as to assess the relative diagnostic value of this parameter.

Methods: We searched our database for patients who received breast MRI studies from February 2010 through March 2011. We then identified those patients who had either known or suspected breast malignancy and who had also undergone DWI. Breast abnormalities were identified through a review of the short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and T1-weighted pre- and post-contrast images. DWI images were evaluated and the corresponding ADC values were calculated. These lesions were correlated with histopathologic results when available.

Results: A total of 174 patient MRI studies were evaluated. Single dominant lesions were assessed and included biopsy-proven infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC), biopsy-proven ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and benign lesions including cysts. The median ADC value for IDC was 118 x 10-5 mm2 s-1. The median ADC value for DCIS was 123 x 10-5 mm2 s-1. Finally, the median ADC value for breast cysts was 217 x 10-5 mm2 s-1.

Conclusions: As the role of MRI continues to evolve in the evaluation of breast pathology, the addition of DWI may increase diagnostic confidence for breast cancer, allowing for further differentiation from benign lesions. DWI is feasible to implement in many clinical practices and correlates with imaging features of breast cancer. The DWI images are acquired rapidly and without intravenous contrast. This method of imaging could be used in short intervals to assess treatment response to therapies such as biologic inhibitors or radiation therapy.

[Quality control for ABO blood group typing of neonatal umbilical cord blood]

This study was aimed to investigate a quality control method for ABO typing of neonatal umbilical cord blood(UCB). The routine serology method was used to identify the ABO type of UCB samples. These samples with questions were further detected by sequence specific primer PCR (PCR-SSP). The results showed that among total of 76120 UCB samples identified by positive ABO typing, there were 78 samples (1 per thousand) which could not be determined. Of these 78 samples, 30 (56.92%) samples with a weak agglutination reaction were excluded by reverse ABO typing. Out of 260 samples in reverse ABO typing, 148 samples were consistent with positive ABO typing, 112 samples (43.08%) were inconsistent with the positive ABO typing. 58 undetermined samples were detected by PCR-SSP. Out of them the genotyping results of 45 samples confirmed the serological typing, the phenotyping results in 3 cases were inconsistent to that of genotyping. 10 cases showed the unconformity between positive and reverse typing, but the genotyping results were fully consistent with the positive typing. In conclusion, positive typing for red cell antigens combined with PCR-SSP is efficient and sensitive for quality control of ABO typing for neonatal UCB.

[Changes of differentiation and gene expression of CD133+ cells in human umbilical cord blood induced by SCF and bFGF]

This study was aimed to investigate the changes of differentiation and gene expression of CD133(+) cells in human umbilical cord blood induced by stem cell factor (SCF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in vitro, and to explore the biological characteristics of CD133(+) cells so as to provide experimental basis for potential use in regenerative medicine. The human umbilical cord blood CD133(+) cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and purified by MACS magnetic selection. The CD133(+) cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing SCF, bFGF and B27 for 10 to 15 days. The total RNA of these cells was extracted before and after culture, and the analysis of related gene expression levels of these cells was performed using oligonucleotide microarrays. The results showed that out of 263 genes 21 genes were obviously up-regulated after culture than that before culture, whereas 7 genes were found to be significant down-regulated as compared with fresh-separated CD133(+) cells. These genes were involved in stem cell specific markers, cell cycle regulators, stem cell differentiation markers and signaling pathways that are important for stem cell maintenance. It is concluded that SCF and bFGF can induce differentiation of human cord blood CD133(+) cells through up- or down-regulation of specific genes. This study provides gene expression information for SCF and bFGF-induced human cord blood CD133(+) cells and contributes to understand the effect of SCF and bFGF on proliferation and differentiation CD133(+) cells at gene level, and promotes therapeutic applications of the CD133(+) cells induced by SCF and bFGF.

Analysis of Kerr effect in resonator fiber optic gyros with triangular wave phase modulation

We present an in-depth analysis of the Kerr effect in resonator fiber optic gyros (R-FOGs) based on triangular wave phase modulation. Formulations that relate gyro output to the rotation rate, the Kerr nonlinearity, and other fiber and gyro parameters are derived and used to study the effect of Kerr nonlinearity on the gyro performance. Numerical investigation shows that the Kerr effect results in a nonzero gyro output even when the gyro is at stationary, which is interpreted as an error in the measurement of rotation rate. This error was found to increase as the frequencies of the two triangular phase modulations deviate from each other, and is not zero even if the intensities of the two counterpropagating beams are exactly the same. For fixed frequencies of the triangular phase modulations, there exists an optimal intensity splitting ratio for the two counterpropagating beams, which leads to zero gyro error. Calculation shows that the measurement error due to the Kerr effect for an R-FOG with a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber as the fiber loop can be one to two orders of magnitude smaller than an R-FOG with a conventional single mode fiber loop.

[Observation on the effect of vitamin C in alleviating peroxidative damage in gut of dogs during enteral fluid resuscitation of severe burn shock]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of vitamin C (VC) on alleviating peroxidative damage in gut of dogs during enteral fluid resuscitation of severe burn shock.

METHODS

Eighteen male Beagle dogs were subjected to 50% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness burn 24 hours after duodenostomy and cannulation of cervical artery and vein. The dogs were divided into no resuscitation (NR) group (no treatment after burn), enteral resuscitation (ER) group, and ER+VC group according to the random number table, with 6 dogs in each group. Dogs in ER and ER+VC groups were respectively infused with glucose-electrolyte solution (GES) and GES containing 250 mg/kg VC through duodenostomy tube 30 minutes after burn. The infusion rate and volume of GES were in accordance with Parkland formula. Venous blood of dogs was drawn before (0) and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 post burn hours (PBH) to determine the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO) in plasma. Dogs were sacrificed at PBH 8 to collect specimens of jejunum tissue for determining the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and assessment of the water ratio of intestinal tissue by dry-wet weight method.

RESULTS

50% TBSA burn injury resulted in significant elevation of DAO in every group. The activity of DAO in ER group was obviously higher than that in NR group at PBH 6 and 8 (P < 0.05), but DAO activity in ER+VC group was significantly lower than those in the other two groups after PBH 2 (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). MDA content, MPO and XOD activity and the water ratio of intestinal tissue [(5.74 +/- 0.51) nmol/mg, (2.08 +/- 0.46) U/g, (58.4 +/- 3.8) U/mg, (81.5 +/- 1.8)%] in ER group at PBH 8 was respectively significantly higher than that in NR group [(5.43 +/- 0.25) nmol/mg, (1.55 +/- 0.21) U/g, (50.1 +/- 2.8) U/mg, (78.3 +/- 1.5)%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01]. While the activity of SOD in ER group (72 +/- 12) U/mg was lower than that in NR group (97 +/- 20) U/mg. MDA content, MPO and XOD activity and water ratio of intestinal tissue in ER+VC group was respectively lower than that in ER group, with activity of SOD in the former group higher than that in the latter group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin C can alleviate peroxidative damage and tissue edema in gut induced by ischemia and reperfusion, and intestinal complications during oral rehydration during burn shock can be reduced.

[Effects of early oral fluid resuscitation on hemodynamic and tissue perfusion during shock stage in dogs with a 50% total body surface area full-thickness burn.]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of early oral fluid resuscitation on hemodynamic and tissue perfusion in dogs with severe burn shock.

METHODS

Eighteen male Beagle dogs with intubation of carotid artery, jugular vein, stomach, jejunum and bladder for 24 h were subjected to a 50%TBSA full-thickness burn, then were equally divided into non fluid resuscitation (NR), oral resuscitation (OR) and intravenous resuscitation(IR) groups, (each n = 6). Dogs in IR and OR groups were given glucose-electrolyte solution (GES) by gastric tube or intravenous infusion according to Parkland formula within 24 h after burn, while those in NR group were not given any treatment. Dogs in each group were given intravenous fluid resuscitation from 24 h after burn. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), systemic vascular resistance (SVR), dp/dt max of left ventricular contractility (dp/dt(max)), gastric carbon dioxide pressure (PgCO2), intestinal mucosal blood flow (IMBF), and urinary output were determined before burn (0 h) and 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 h after burn at no anaesthesia state. Mortality rate of 72 h after burn was also recorded.

RESULTS

MAP, CO, dp/dt(max), IMBF greatly decreased, and SVR and PgCO2 obviously increased from 2 h after burn in each group (P < 0.01). The measurements except IMBF of IR group returned to pre-injury levels at 72 h after burn, while CO, SVR, PgCO2 and IMBF of OR group still worse compared with 0 h (P < 0.01). All measurements of NR group kept on worsen, and died with anuria within 24 h after burn. Parameters of hemodynamic and tissue perfusion of OR group were significantly superior to those of NR group, but it inferior to those of IR group. At 72 h after burn, 6 (6/6) survived in IR group, 3 (3/6) in OR group and 0 (0/6) in NR group.

CONCLUSIONS

Although oral resuscitation with GES is not as efficient as intravenous resuscitation in a 50%TBSA burn injury, it still can promote hemodynamic, improve the tissue perfusion and reduce the mortality comparing to no resuscitation. Oral resuscitation might be an ideal alternative way of intravenous resuscitation, especially in wars or other site of mass casualties.

[Treatment of brain injured rats through transplanting amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells in different ways]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the behavioral improvement to find the best transplantation approach for treating brain injury through transplanting amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells into brain injured rats in different ways.

METHODS

Eighty brain injured Wista rats were randomly divided into a control group with brain injury alone (n=20) and a treatment group(n=60) which were further evenly divided into Group A (transplanted through the vena caudalis), Group B (transplanted through the ventriculus cerebri lateralis), and Group C (transplanted through the injured brain area). Each group was transplanted with amniotic-derived esenchymal stem cells, and their therapeutic efficacy would be evaluated through the neurological severity score (NSS).

RESULTS

Compared with other groups, the behaviors of Group C had markedly improved. There was statistically significant difference in the 2 groups (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the behaviors of Group A and Group B had marked improvement. There was statistically significant difference in the 3 groups (P<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between Group A and the control group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Transplanting the amniotic-derived mesenchymal stem cells into the injured brain area may be effective for brain injury in rats.

[Effect of CTL on K562 cell induced by exosomes and in combination with CPG OND]

To investigate the specific anti-leukemia effect of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) induced by dendritic cells (DCs) activated by exosomes alone or in combination with CpG ODN in vitro and the feasibility of exosomes as remedial vaccine, the DCs induced from normal volunteer PBMNCs were divided into 7 groups. Three groups of them were added with the exosomes: Kexo (exosomes derived from K562 cells) or DCexo (exosomes derived from DCs induced from K562 cells) or FTexo (exosomes derived from DCs induced from K562 cells and pulsed by freeze-thawing antigen of K562 cells) as experimental groups (Kexo, DCexo and FTexo). The other three groups were added with CPG ODN while added the exosomes (Kexo, DCexo and FTexo), and were used as experimental groups also (Kexo+CpG, DCexo+CpG and FTexo+CpG). The seventh group DCs was added with nothing as blank control. These DCs above mentioned were cultured continuously for 72 hours. The T lymphocytes were co-cultured with DCs for another 72 hours to generate CTL. Then, the killing effects of them on K562 cells were determined by MTT assay. The results showed that all experimental groups pulsed by exosomes displayed stronger killing effect, compared with control group (p<0.05). DCexo and FTexo displayed stronger killing effect too, compared with Kexo (p<0.05). CPG ODN as an adjuvant could enhance the killing effect (p<0.05). It is concluded that the special killing effect on K562 cells can be induced by exosomes, CPG ODN as an adjuvant can enhance the killing effect. Exosome is hopeful as a remedial vaccine to be used for the leukemia therapy.

[Effects of novel human chemokine-like factor superfamily 8 on proliferation and EGFR expression of HL-60 cells]

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of chemokine-like factor superfamily 8 (CKLFSF8) on proliferation and expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) of HL-60 cells. Expression of CKLFSF8 mRNA on HL-60 cell line was assayed by RT-PCR; the target gene was transfected into the cells by lipid vector, cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, while expression of EGFR in HL-60 was determined by immunocytochemical technique. The results indicated that expression of CKLFSF8 existed in HL-60 cells. After transfection, cell proliferation was inhibited (P < 0.05) and the expression of EGFR in HL-60 cells was also discovered to be inhibited (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the proliferation and expression of EGFR in HL-60 cells can be inhibited by transfection of CKLFSF8. The novel chemokine may provide a new approach in the treatment of leukemia.

Comparative observation with MRI and pathology of brain edema at the early stage of severe burn

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the correlation between MRI features and pathology in brain edema at the early stage of severe burn (5 0% TBSA III degree) in dogs.

METHODS

Fifty-two dogs were randomized into control, simple b urn (SB), burn plus sodium lactate (BSL), and burn plus glucose solution groups (BGS). The manifestation of the brain of control group was compared with that of burn groups at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours postburn with MRI and pathological examination (gross appearance, electron microscopy and light microscopy).

RESULTS

The earliest findings of brain edema were seen at 12 h ours after burn in BGS group, in which brain swelling was the main feature of MR I. The decrease of SIR on T(1)WI was not observed until it was exceeded 10%. Sig nal of T(2)WI increased by 8.29% at 24 hours after burn. It was difficult to distinguish the gray matter from the white matter at the boundary line, which became blurred later. Histological changes of brain edema were observed as early as 6 hours after burn, being accompanied by swelling of endothelial cells and peri-vescular astrocytes, and vacuolation took place in neurons at 12 hours after burn, with different degrees of necrosis of capillary endothelium, neurons, and axons. These changes became more marked with elapse of time. The BGS group showed the most obvious changes mentioned above at 24 hours after burn.

CONCLUSIONS

The model of the brain edema after severe burn has the feature of both vasogenic edema and cytotoxic edema on the MRI and pathology. Positive MRI findings lagged behind that of the pathomorphological changes.

[Application of triple-color flow cytometry for minimal residual disease detection in acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia]

OBJECTIVE

To set up a sensitive triple-color flow cytometric assay (FCM) for detection of residual leukemia cells.

METHODS

Application of triple-color flow cytometry to the patients for detecting CD(10)(+)CD(22)(+)CD(45)(- or dim) leukemic cells in acute B lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

RESULTS

Leukemic cells in B-ALL patients' bone marrow (BM) consistently showed the CD(10)(+)CD(22)(+)CD(45)(- or dim) phenotype. FCM analysis could detect leukemic cells at the level of 1 per 10(4) cells. The CD(10)(+)CD(22)(+)CD(45)(- or dim) cell population was absent in normal BM, regenerating BM, and BM from leukemia patients in continuous complete remission. This assay could identify residual leukemic cells in 50 days after starting induction chemotherapy. Furthermore, a gradual increase of leukemic cell population could be monitored by this assay before morphological confirmation of BM relapse.

CONCLUSION

Triple-color FCM was a sensitive method for detecting BM CD(10)(+)CD(22)(+)CD(45)(minus sign or dim) leukemic cells and could be an additional useful tool to monitor MRD in B-ALL patients.

[A canine model of brain edema established in the early postburn stage]

OBJECTIVE

To establish a canine model of brain edema in the early stage of severe burn.

METHODS

Mongrel dogs were inflicted by napalm with 50% TBSA III degree burn. The dogs were randomized into normal control (C), burn (B), burn with balanced salt solution (S) and burn with glucose (G) groups. The macropathological, histopathological and ultrastructural changes of brain tissue and brain water (%) were examined at 6, 12, 18 and 24 postburn hours (PBH), respectively, with simultaneous evaluation of blood brain barrier by (99) TC -- ECD.

RESULTS

Pathological evidence of brain edema exhibited at as early as 6 PBH in B, S and G groups, which included cellular swelling of partial endothelia and pericapillary astrocytes, and ischemic necrosis of endothelia, neurons and axons to varying degrees. All the changes exhibited more and more obvious with the elapse of postburn time. The brain water content in each burn group, especially in G group at 24 PBH, was more than that in C group. It was indicated by nuclide imaging that there appeared gradual increasing of the concentration of (99) TC -- ECD in brain tissue in B and C groups since 6 PBH.

CONCLUSION

This model was established for the convenience of burn scholars to study the pathogenesis and management of postburn brain edema.

[Cord blood plasma selectively stimulates the expansion of hematopoietic pregenitor cells in vitro]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of cord blood (CB) plasma on the expansion of hematopoietic progenitor cells.

METHODS

The effect of CB plasma on the expansion of CB and bone marrow (BM)-derived hematopoietic progenitor cells was studies and compared with those of adult's peripheral blood (PB) plasma and cytokines such as IL-3 and SCF.

RESULTS

(1) CB plasma increased CFU yields of CB-derived progenitor cells by 2.23 +/- 0.52-fold and this expansion was dependent on CB plasma concentrations supplemented in the cultures. Greater expansion of progenitor cells was found when ABO was unmatched between the CB-derived cells and CB plasma. (2) Stimulating effect of CB plasma on BM-derived progenitor cells was also related to ABO type. CFU yields were increased by 1.55 +/- 0.43-fold when ABO was unmatched and not increased when ABO was matched. (3) Expansion of CB-derived progenitor cells by IL-3 and SCF was revealed. Significant increase in CFU yields occurred in the addition of both the cytokine and the CB plasma. (4) No expansion occurred in CB-and BM-derived cell cultures supplemented with PB plasma.

CONCLUSION

There is factor(s) selectively stimulating expansion of progenitor cells in CB plasma. It may be beneficial that CB plasma was transfused with CB-derived stem cell transplantation.

Psychosis and genes with trinucleotide repeat polymorphism

Abnormal expansion of genes with trinucleotide repeat (TNR) polymorphism has been found in a number of neuropsychiatric disorders. These disorders and the major psychoses, schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder, appear to share an interesting phenomenon: genetic anticipation. Because TNR expansion correlates with anticipation, these unstable DNA sites are considered important candidate loci for the major psychoses. We investigated genes with TNR polymorphisms, including B1, B33, B37, and the N-cadherin gene, in unrelated Caucasian North American and Italian schizophrenics (n = 53 to 74), and matched controls. Also, unrelated Caucasian North American patients with bipolar I affective disorder were screened for the B33 and N-cadherin genes (n = 49 and 63, respectively). No unusually long alleles that would suggest abnormal expansion of the TNR were observed for any of these genes. Also, no statistically significant results were found in tests for genetic association between any of these genes and schizophrenia. For B37, a trend toward a difference in allele counts between schizophrenics and controls was observed. However, no clear evidence for a role of these TNR-containing genes in schizophrenia or bipolar affective disorders was found.

Collateral circulatory development in skeletal muscle

The arterial collateral anastomoses in rectus abdominis of the dog are employed as an animal model. The dynamic changes of collateral channels have been uncovered during roestablishment of collateral circulation. The experimental results display the 3 morphological characters, calibre dilatation, cell proliferation, and vessel reconstruction, at different time intervals in the collateral development. It provides evidence that some useful programme can be added to get a more effective collateral circulatory function in clinical practice.