RETRACTED: Lai et al. MicroRNA-21 Plays Multiple Oncometabolic Roles in the Process of NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma via PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, and STAT3 Signaling. Cancers 2021, 13, 940

The Cancers Editorial Office retracts the article, "MicroRNA-21 Plays Multiple Oncometabolic Roles in the Process of NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma via PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, and STAT3 Signaling" [...].

Effect of phosphorus doping on the luminescence intensity of Si-NC in SiO/Si multilayers

The application of silicon nanocrystals (Si-NC) is somewhat limited due to their low luminescence intensity. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate methods for enhancing the luminescence intensity of Si-NC. In this study, phosphorus (P)-doped Si-NC with two different doping methods were prepared by electron beam thermal evaporation: in-situ doping (during synthesis) and ex-situ doping (after synthesis). The photoluminescence (PL) intensity and crystallinity of Si-NC can be enhanced through phosphorus doping. Moreover, a comparison between two different methods of Si-NC doping reveals that the luminescence intensity of in-situ P-doped Si-NC is superior to that of ex-situ P-doped Si-NC, which is increased by an order of magnitude compared to the PL intensity of undoped Si-NC.

The tumor/normal tissue ratio of Keap1 protein is a predictor for lymphovascular invasion in colorectal cancer: A correlation study between the Nrf2 and KRas pathways

PURPOSE: Oxidative stress has impacts on the KRas and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways, which have multiple interactions with each other and play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study investigated the expressions of proteins in the KRas and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways and their associations with clinicopathological features in CRC.METHODS: The protein levels of Nrf2, Keap1, Bach1, p62, HO1, KRas, Erk, Raf1 and PI3K in both the tumor and normal tissues of 60 CRC subjects were determined by Western blot and their T/N (tumor/normal tissue) ratios were correlated with clinicopathological features.RESULTS: The T/N ratios of proteins in the KRas and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways had correlation patterns and proximity profiles in cluster dendrograms different in CRC with different status of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) or lymph node/distant metastases. The Keap1 protein T/N ratio was a significant predictor (odd ratio: 2.24; 95% confidence interval: 1.26 - 4.38) of LVI, which in turn predicted metastases (11.0; 3.49 - 39.8).CONCLUSION: The interactions between the KRas and Nrf2/Keap1 pathways may be affected differently by LVI and metastases, and the protein T/N ratio of Keap1 may be helpful for predicting LVI in CRC.

MicroRNA-21 Plays Multiple Oncometabolic Roles in the Process of NAFLD-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma via PI3K/AKT, TGF-β, and STAT3 Signaling

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) is one of the most frequently upregulated miRNAs in liver diseases such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, mechanistic pathways that connect NAFLD and HCC remain elusive. We developed a doxycycline (Dox)-inducible transgenic zebrafish model (LmiR21) which exhibited an upregulation of miR-21 in the liver, which in turn induced the full spectrum of NAFLD, including steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis, and HCC, in the LmiR21 fish. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) treatment led to accelerated liver tumor formation and exacerbated their aggressiveness. Moreover, prolonged miR-21 expression for up to ten months induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-related HCC (NAHCC). Immunoblotting and immunostaining confirmed the presence of miR-21 regulatory proteins (i.e., PTEN, SMAD7, p-AKT, p-SMAD3, and p-STAT3) in human nonviral HCC tissues and LmiR21 models. Thus, we demonstrated that miR-21 can induce NAHCC via at least three mechanisms: First, the occurrence of hepatic steatosis increases with the decrease of ptenb, pparaa, and activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway; second, miR-21 induces hepatic inflammation (or NASH) through an increase in inflammatory gene expression via STAT3 signaling pathways, and induces liver fibrosis through hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and collagen deposition via TGF-β/Smad3/Smad7 signaling pathways; finally, oncogenic activation of Smad3/Stat3 signaling pathways induces HCC. Our LmiR21 models showed similar molecular pathology to the human cancer samples in terms of initiation of lipid metabolism disorder, inflammation, fibrosis and activation of the PI3K/AKT, TGF-β/SMADs and STAT3 (PTS) oncogenic signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that miR-21 plays critical roles in the mechanistic perspectives of NAHCC development via the PTS signaling networks.

Histopathologic Findings Associated With Matrix Metalloproteinases Proceeding to Recurrence of Primary Spontaneous Pneumothorax in Adolescents

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax is potentially life-threatening, and its recurrence is always a serious problem. Pathological examination provides molecular insights into the pathophysiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Objectives: To investigate the association of histopathologic features of primary spontaneous pneumothorax with matrix metalloproteinase expression and their relevance to the recurrence. Methods: A total of 217 tissue section slides in 172 adolescent patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were retrospectively reviewed from January 2001 to June 2020. All histopathologic features were recorded and pathologic findings related to ipsilateral recurrence and second surgery were analyzed. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases were prospectively measured in 25 primary spontaneous pneumothorax patients receiving surgery and 18 healthy controls. Their relevance to the histopathologic features of primary spontaneous pneumothorax related to its recurrence was also examined. Results: The major presenting histopathologic findings of primary spontaneous pneumothorax were bleb/bulla (98%) followed by fibrosis (68%). Low prevalence of the pathologic findings of granulation tissue and macrophage accumulation were significantly associated with recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax, whereas fibrosis was significantly higher in patients receiving more than once surgery. Furthermore, the ratios of matrix metalloproteinase-2/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 were significantly higher in theses pathological findings as well as multinucleated giant cells and mesothelial cell hyperplasia in comparison with healthy controls. Conclusions: Low prevalence of macrophage accumulation and granulation tissue related to the overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and-9 activities may contribute to healing impairment and primary spontaneous pneumothorax recurrence.

[Application of multiple exposure assessment methods in occupational health risk assessment of trichloroethylene in electroplating enterprises]

Objective: To explore the applicability of different exposure assessment methods in occupational health risk assessment of trichloroethylene (TCE) occupation posts in electroplating enterprise. Methods: In November 2018, the occupational health risk assessments are conducted in trichloroethylene (TCE) occupation posts of 6 metal plating enterprises in a street in Shenzhen by using the qualitative risk assessment, semi-quantitative risk assessment (including contact ratio method, contact index method and synthesis index method) and quantitative risk assessment method (including non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessment methods) , and the results of different methods are compared. Results: The results of qualitative assessment method are all level 4 (high risk) ; the results of contact ratio method show that the risk level is level 5 (very high risk) ; the results of contact index method and Synthesis index method show that the risk level is level 3 and level 4, 66.7% and 33.3% respectively; Non-carcinogenic risk assessment results show that TCE jobs are "unacceptable"; carcinogenic risk assessment results in carcinogenic inhalation excess risk of 50% each being "unacceptable" and "acceptable". The results of the six risk assessment methods showed that there were 3 "substantially consistent", 1 "partially consistent", and 2 "inconsistent" among the 6 companies. Conclusion: Synthesis index method and the carcinogenic risk assessment method are more suitable for occupational health risks of TCE occupation posts.

Painless gouty tophus in the nasal bridge: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE

A gouty tophus, arising from the deposition of monosodium urate crystals (MSU), rarely occurs in the nasal bridge. There have been only 7 documented cases of a gouty tophus in the nasal bridge from 1978 to 2018 in English-language literature.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 65-year-old male had a chief complaint of a lump in the nasal bridge that was slowly growing for over 1 year.

DIAGNOSIS

MSU crystals were confirmed through ultrasonography (US) and pathological examinations.

INTERVENTIONS

A cosmetically less destructive method, ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was used to approach the mass lesion of nasal bridge.

OUTCOMES

The diagnosis was confirmed as a gouty tophus without performing a nasal subdermal exploration.

LESSONS

This case report is the first use of US with FNAC to approach and diagnosed a gouty tophus in the nasal bridge.

[Abnormal expression of angiopoietin-2 associated with invasion, metastasis and prognosis of lung cancer]

Objective: To investigate the relationship between abnormal angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) expression and invasion/metastasis of lung cancer. Methods: Totally 122 cases of postoperative primary lung cancer tissues and their paracancerous tissues from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2010 were collected from Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Ang-2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. At the cellular level, the protein and mRNA levels of Ang-2 in lung epithelial cell line Beas-2B and four lung cancer cell lines (SPCA-1, NCI-1650, A549 and NCI-H1975) were observed. The most effective Ang-2-shRNA for Ang-2 transcription was screened and transfected into A 549 lung cancer cells. The Ang-2 expression, Ang-2 gene transcription, cell proliferation, invasion/metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) abilities of lung cancer cells were analyzed by Western blotting, fluorescent quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and Transwell cell models for exploring the relationship between Ang-2 expression and invasion/metastasis of lung cancer. Results: The higher Ang-2 expression levels in lung cancerous tissues were closely related to tumor diameter (P=0.008), differentiating degree (P=0.033), TNM stage (P=0.025) and 5-year survival rate (P<0.001). According to the Kaplan-Meier survival curves, the 5-year survival rate of patients with higher expression levels of Ang-2 (16.1%) was significantly poorer than that of patients with lower Ang-2 (80.0%, P<0.001). Significant difference of 5-year survival rate was found in patients with different Ang-2 levels at TNM stage Ⅰ(P<0.001), but not at stage Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ. Among Beas-2B and four lung cancer cell lines, the protein and mRNA levels of Ang-2 in A549 cells were the highest. After Ang-2-shRNA-1 plasmid successfully transfected into A549 cells, cell proliferation rate was significantly lower than that in the shRNA-negative or blank group at a time-dependent manner. The significant decrease of the invasion, migration and EMT abilities were also found in A549 cells after transfection of Ang-2 shRNA. Conclusion: Abnormal expression of Ang-2 is closely related to invasion, migration and prognosis of lung cancer, and interfering the activation of Ang-2 would be a novel molecular-targeted therapy for lung cancer.

Overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax for surgical intervention

OBJECTIVE

To determine gene expression profiles associated with bullae formation in patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax and to identify candidate genes associated with surgical intervention.

METHODS

Twenty-four adolescents with primary spontaneous pneumothorax were enrolled prospectively. A global gene expression analysis of 9 paired lung biopsies (lesion and normal adjacent sites) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes associated with spontaneous pneumothorax. Pathway and network analysis was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery web tool. Candidate genes and encoding proteins were assessed in blood samples and compared between patients with pneumothorax and healthy control patients.

RESULTS

A total of 1519 differentially expressed transcripts corresponding to known genes were identified comparing the lesion lung with paired adjacent normal lung. The altered genes were mainly associated with focal adhesion and extracellular matrix-receptor interaction pathways. Genes involved in proteolysis and peptidase activity were up-regulated predominantly, especially matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -9 genes. Compared with the recovery stage, blood levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 were increased at the acute stage in patients with pneumothorax and, when compared between patients treated operatively with those treated nonoperatively, were also significantly greater. In addition, ratios of their serum levels were significantly greater in patients with pneumothorax compared with healthy control patients. Furthermore, matrix metalloproteinase-9 was predominantly overexpressed in neutrophils, alveolar macrophages, and mesothelial cells of lung biopsies.

CONCLUSIONS

An imbalance of cell-extracellular matrix interactions appears to be associated with primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 overexpression may particularly play a role in contributing to pleural porosity for surgical intervention.

The Relationship between Emergency Response Time and Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Prognosis: A Meta-Analysis

Objective

To assess the relationship between emergency response time and prognosis of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Design

Systematic review.

Methods

Relevant observational studies were identified by a search of PubMed and ISI databases to 30 January 2014. Primary outcome was survival to discharge. The weighted mean differences (WMD) for response time were calculated for those survivals to discharge and death in hospital. We also carried out a dose response meta-analysis for assessing summary odds ratio (OR) of survival by response time.

Results

A total of 13 studies with 804,998 patients included in the meta-analysis. The WMD of response time between survivals to discharge group and death in hospital group was 1.976 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.161-2.792; p<0.001). Sensitivity analyses by only included prospective cohorts showed the WMD of response time between two groups was 1.115 (95% CI=0.508-1.723; p<0.001). Dose-response relationship between response time and survival to discharge risk was observed statistically significant (χ2=39.86, p<0.001). In linear model, the summary OR was 0.914 (95% CI=0.889-0.940) for every 1 minutes delay in response time. In spline model, the survival OR decreased along with the response time, especially when response time less than 7 minutes.

Conclusions

Emergency response time is an important risk factor for prognosis after OHCA in adults. The EMS team must arrive as soon as possible to the site of the event. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2015;22:345-351)

The ratio of thioredoxin/Keap1 protein level is a predictor of distant metastasis in colorectal cancer

Aim: Thioredoxin can reduce the cysteine group of Keap1 which could induce proteasome degradation of Nrf2, PGAM5 and Bcl-xL. Nrf2 regulates redox balance and Bcl-xL is anti-apoptotic and both are important in tumor progression. Methods: The protein levels of Keap1, thioredoxin, PGAM5 and Bcl-xL in the normal and tumor tissues of 64 subjects with colorectal cancer (CRC) were determined by western blot. Results: The tumor had higher Keap1 but lower PGAM5s and Bcl-xL protein expression than the normal tissue. The ratio of thioredoxin/Keap1 protein level in the normal (OR: 0.12; 95% CI: 0.02–0.83) or tumor tissue (OR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.03–0.89) was a negative predictor for distant metastasis in CRC. Conclusion: Keap1-mediated degradation of PGAM5 and Bcl-xL may be active in CRC. The ratio of thioredoxin/Keap1 protein level may be useful for suggesting distant metastasis in CRC.

Inducible liver-specific overexpression of gankyrin in zebrafish results in spontaneous intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma formation

Liver cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. As such, establishing animal models of the disease is important for both basic and translational studies that move toward developing new therapies. Gankyrin is a critical oncoprotein in the genetic control of liver pathology. In order to evaluate the oncogenic role of gankyrin without cancer cell inoculation and drug treatment, we overexpressed gankyrin under the control of the fabp10a promoter. A Tet-Off system was used to drive expression in hepatocytes. At seven to twelve months of age, gankyrin transgenic fish spontaneously incurred persistent hepatocyte damage, steatosis, cholestasis, cholangitis, fibrosis and hepatic tumors. The tumors were both hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). ICC is the second most frequent primary liver cancer in human patients and the first to develop in this tumor model. We further investigated the role of complement C3, a central molecule of the complement system, and found the expression levels of both in mRNA and protein are decreased during tumorigenesis. Together, these findings suggest that gankyrin can promote malignant transformation of liver cells in the context of persistent liver injury. This transformation may be related to compensatory proliferation and the inflammatory microenvironment. The observed decrease in complement C3 may allow transforming cells to escape coordinated induction of the immune response. Herein, we demonstrate an excellent zebrafish model for liver cancers that will be useful for studying the molecular mechanisms of tumorgenesis.

An unusual presentation of multiple myeloma with unilateral sudden vision loss: A case report

RATIONALE

Plasma cell neoplasms are categorized by neoplastic proliferation of a single clone of plasma cells which produce a monoclonal immunoglobulin. Plasma cell neoplasms can present as a solitary plasmacytoma or as multiple myeloma. Both of them can progress to multiple myeloma. Once a diagnosis of plasmacytoma has been made, thorough examinations should be carried out for identifying the disease entity.

PATIENT CONCERNS AND DIAGNOSES

Herein, we describe an extraordinary rare case of multiple myeloma with initial presentation of a left sphenoid neoplasm resulting in left-sided headache and rapid deterioration of visual acuity. Histo-pathologic analysis revealed a plasma cell neoplasm with positive immunostaining for cluster of differentiation (CD)138, CD79a, and kappa light chain of immunoglobulin. A bone marrow aspiration was then performed, and the diagnosis of multiple myeloma was then confirmed.

INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES

After investigative workup, our patient received chemotherapy, localized radiotherapy, and autologous stem cell transplantation. Her visual acuity recovered to the baseline and she sustained a partial response without subjective discomfort.

LESSONS

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is an interesting but infrequent presentation of multiple myeloma. Moreover, involvement of the sphenoid sinus in multiple myeloma resulting in extrinsic optic nerve compression is extremely rare. Clinicians should consider plasmacytoma as a diagnostic possibility when presented with cases of solitary sphenoid neoplasm and rapid progression of clinical course.

Amplification of HER2 and TOP2A and deletion of TOP2A genes in a series of Taiwanese breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The prognostic relevance of topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) copy number change remains not well established. This study is aimed to investigate the frequency and pattern of TOP2A aberrations; to correlate TOP2A alterations with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status and clinicopathological parameters, and further to explore prognostic value of TOP2A and HER2 status in breast cancer in Taiwan.

METHODS

We analyzed tissue samples from 311 invasive carcinomas in tissue microarrays for TOP2A and HER2 status by fluorescent in situ hybridization.

RESULTS

TOP2A copy number change is an infrequent genetic event (9.8% amplification and 2.7% deletion) and is present in both HER2-amplified and nonamplified tumors. TOP2A amplification is statistically associated with age >50 at diagnosis (P = 0.016) and HER2 amplification (P < 0.001). HER2 amplification, but not TOP2A amplification, is a predictor of unfavorable prognosis (P = 0.002). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that higher histologic grading, positive nodal involvement, and HER2 positivity were associated with poorer overall survival. Cytogenetically, double minutes-type amplification is the predominant pattern for both genes (HER2: 64% and TOP2A: 93.1%). Homogeneous staining region-type signals of both genes are resistant to RNase digestion, supporting that these were not nuclear accumulation of mRNA transcripts.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate the prognostic value of tumor grading, nodal involvement, and HER2 status in Taiwanese breast cancer. TOP2A aberrations are an infrequent event independent of HER2 status, and TOP2A amplification carries no prognostic value. The predictive value of TOP2A aberrations in patients of breast cancer taking athracycline-containing treatment in Taiwan remains to be determined in prospectively well-designed clinical trials.

miR-122-mediated translational repression of PEG10 and its suppression in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a primary liver malignancy, is the most common cancer in males and fourth common cancer in females in Taiwan. HCC patients usually have a poor prognosis due to late diagnosis. It has been classified as a complex disease because of the heterogeneous phenotypic and genetic traits of the patients and a wide range of risk factors. Micro (mi)RNAs regulate oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that are known to be dysregulated in HCC. Several studies have found an association between downregulation of miR-122, a liver-specific miRNA, and upregulation of paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10) in HCC; however, the correlation between low miR-122 and high PEG10 levels still remains to be defined and require more investigations to evaluate their performance as an effective prognostic biomarker for HCC.

Methods

An in silico approach was used to isolate PEG10, a potential miR-122 target implicated in HCC development. miR-122S binding sites in the PEG10 promoter were evaluated with a reporter assay. The regulation of PEG10 by miR-122S overexpression was examined by quantitative RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry in miR-122 knockout mice and liver tissue from HCC patients. The relationship between PEG10 expression and clinicopathologic features of HCC patients was also evaluated.

Results

miR-122 downregulated the expression of PEG10 protein through binding to 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of the PEG10 transcript. In miR-122 knockout mice and HCC patients, the deficiency of miR-122 was associated with HCC progression. The expression of PEG10 was increased in 57.3 % of HCC as compared to paired non-cancerous tissue samples. However, significant upregulation was detected in 56.5 % of patients and was correlated with Okuda stage (P = 0.05) and histological grade (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

miR-122 suppresses PEG10 expression via direct binding to the 3′-UTR of the PEG10 transcript. Therefore, while PEG10 could not be an ideal diagnostic biomarker for HCC but its upregulation in HCC tissue still has predictive value for HCC prognosis.

S100P, a calcium-binding protein, is preferentially associated with the growth of polypoid tumors in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a genetically heterogeneous disease with distinct morphological patterns. It has been shown that polypoid and ulcerative CRC displays different genetic alterations. In the present study, we aimed to investigate genes with differential expression patterns between ulcerative and polypoid CRC. cDNA microarray analysis was performed to compare the gene expression profiles in samples of ulcerative and polypoid CRC with paired normal mucosa samples. Potential candidate genes were further validated using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. The epigenetic regulation of gene expression was investigated using methylation-specific PCR (MSP). cDNA microarray analysis identified 11 upregulated and 14 downregulated genes which were differentially expressed in samples from both tumor types compared to the matched normal mucosa samples. Among these, S100P was the only upregulated gene preferentially associated with polypoid CRC (P=0.032). The samples of polypoid CRC displayed significantly higher S100P protein and mRNA expression levels than the samples of ulcerative CRC (P<0.05, respectively). Using semi-quantitative immunohistochemical analyses, S100P overexpression was found to be preferentially associated with polypoid CRC (24/30 vs. 14/40, P<0.001). The relative methylation level determined by MSP did not differ significantly between the samples of polypoid and ulcerative CRC (43.36 vs. 49.10%, P=0.168), indicating that promoter hypomethylation was not directly related to the upregulation of S100P mRNA. Our results demonstrate that the upregulation of S100P mRNA and protein expression is a predominant characteristic in polypoid CRC, whereas ulcerative CRC presents with a wide range of expression levels, indicating that S100P overexpression is not a key determinant in conferring invasion properties. The clinicopathological significance of S100P in CRC requires further investigation in well-controlled studies.

IFNAR1 is a predictor for overall survival in colorectal cancer and its mRNA expression correlated with IRF7 but not TLR9

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 plays a role in intestinal inflammation that, in turn, is related to the tumorigenesis of colorectal cancer. Nuclear factor κB (NFκB), and interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5 and IRF7 can be activated by TLR9 and induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon, respectively. This study investigated the mRNA expressions of TLR9 and its downstream signaling molecules in both the tumor and the normal tissues of colorectal cancer. Eighty-four subjects with colorectal cancer were consecutively recruited at a community-based hospital, and the mRNA expression of TLR9, NFκB, IRF5, IRF7, interleukin 6 (IL6), and interferon α/β/ω receptor 1 (IFNAR1) in the tumor and normal tissue were determined by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction using TaqMan FAM-labeled MGB probes (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA). The tumor had higher percentages of detection of TLR9, IFNAR1, and IL6 mRNA expressions than normal tissue. The absence of detectable TLR9 mRNA expression was associated with an absence of significance in the correlation between IL6 and NFκB or IRF5, but not that between IRF7 and IFNAR1 in both the tumor and the normal tissues. An absence of detectable IFNAR1 mRNA expression in the tumor (hazard ratio: 3.77; 95% confidence interval: 1.22-11.60) and advanced stage (stages III and IV, 7.86; 1.76-35.40) were significant predictors for overall survival. IFNAR1 is a predictor for overall survival and mRNA expression is correlated to IRF7, but not TLR9 in colorectal cancer. The results cast doubt on the usefulness of TLR9 agonist in treating colorectal cancer.

A universal fluorescence sensing strategy based on biocompatible graphene quantum dots and graphene oxide for the detection of DNA

A novel and efficient fluorescence sensing platform based on biocompatible graphene quantum dots and graphene oxide was established. It showed high selectivity and sensitivity for DNA detection.

Tight regulation of a timed nuclear import wave of EKLF by PKCθ and FOE during Pro-E to Baso-E transition

Erythropoiesis is a highly regulated process during which BFU-E are differentiated into RBCs through CFU-E, Pro-E, PolyCh-E, OrthoCh-E, and reticulocyte stages. Uniquely, most erythroid-specific genes are activated during the Pro-E to Baso-E transition. We show that a wave of nuclear import of the erythroid-specific transcription factor EKLF occurs during the Pro-E to Baso-E transition. We further demonstrate that this wave results from a series of finely tuned events, including timed activation of PKCθ, phosphorylation of EKLF at S68 by P-PKCθ(S676), and sumoylation of EKLF at K74. The latter EKLF modifications modulate its interactions with a cytoplasmic ankyrin-repeat-protein FOE and importinβ1, respectively. The role of FOE in the control of EKLF nuclear import is further supported by analysis of the subcellular distribution patterns of EKLF in FOE-knockout mice. This study reveals the regulatory mechanisms of the nuclear import of EKLF, which may also be utilized in the nuclear import of other factors.

Absence of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) gene amplification in a series of breast cancers in Taiwan

Immunohistochemical expression of ERα, encoded by the ESR1 (estrogen receptor 1) gene located at 6q25.1, is the most important determinant of responsiveness to endocrine therapy in breast cancer. The prevalence and significance of ESR1 amplification in breast cancer remain controversial. We set out to assess ESR1 status and its relevance in breast cancer in Taiwan. We tested tissue samples from 311 invasive carcinomas in a tissue microarray for ESR1 status by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH). In order to examine its association with ERα and ESR1 status, HER2 status was determined by FISH. Of the carcinomas, 58.8 % (183/311) was ERα positive. None of the carcinomas showed amplification of ESR1 by either method, whereas 24.1 % (75/311) of the carcinomas harbored HER2 amplification. Of the carcinomas, 9.6 % (26/301) showed ESR1 gain (1.3 ≤ ratio ESR1/chromosome 6 < 2) by FISH and 10 % (24/299) by CISH. FISH and CISH results showed a good correlation (κ-coefficient = 0.786). ESR1 gain by FISH and CISH was significantly associated with high-grade (P = 0.0294 and 0.0417, respectively) but not with ERα expression, HER2 status, or overall survival. ERα positivity was significantly associated with better overall survival (P = 0.039). HER2 amplification was significantly related with poor overall survival (P = 0.002). Our data confirm that in breast cancer, HER2 amplification is a frequent genetic aberration and a negative prognostic factor, and show that ESR1 amplification is not a key genetic abnormality in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer in Taiwan.

Differential contributions of basal ganglia and thalamus to song initiation, tempo, and structure

Basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuits are multistage loops critical to motor behavior, but the contributions of individual components to overall circuit function remain unclear. We addressed these issues in a songbird basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit (the anterior forebrain pathway, AFP) specialized for singing and critical for vocal plasticity. The major known afferent to the AFP is the premotor cortical nucleus, HVC. Surprisingly, previous studies found that lesions of HVC alter song but do not eliminate the ability of the AFP to drive song production. We therefore used this AFP-driven song to investigate the role of basal ganglia and thalamus in vocal structure, tempo, and initiation. We found that lesions of the striatopallidal component (Area X) slowed song and simplified its acoustic structure. Elimination of the thalamic component (DLM) further simplified the acoustic structure of song and regularized its rhythm but also dramatically reduced song production. The acoustic structure changes imply that sequential stages of the AFP each add complexity to song, but the effects of DLM lesions on song initiation suggest that thalamus is a locus of additional inputs important to initiation. Together, our results highlight the cumulative contribution of stages of a basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit to motor output along with distinct involvement of thalamus in song initiation or "gating."

Liver-specific expressions of HBx and src in the p53 mutant trigger hepatocarcinogenesis in zebrafish

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process that starts from fatty liver and transitions to fibrosis and, finally, into cancer. Many etiological factors, including hepatitis B virus X antigen (HBx) and p53 mutations, have been implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, potential synergistic effects between these two factors and the underlying mechanisms by which they promote hepatocarcinogenesis are still unclear. In this report, we show that the synergistic action of HBx and p53 mutation triggers progressive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation via src activation in zebrafish. Liver-specific expression of HBx in wild-type zebrafish caused steatosis, fibrosis and glycogen accumulation. However, the induction of tumorigenesis by HBx was only observed in p53 mutant fish and occurred in association with the up-regulation and activation of the src tyrosine kinase pathway. Furthermore, the overexpression of src in p53 mutant zebrafish also caused hyperplasia, HCC, and sarcomatoid HCC, which were accompanied by increased levels of the signaling proteins p-erk, p-akt, myc, jnk1 and vegf. Increased expression levels of lipogenic factors and the genes involved in lipid metabolism and glycogen storage were detected during the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in the HBx and src transgenic zebrafish. The up-regulation of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, tumor progression and other molecular hallmarks of human liver cancer were found at later stages in both HBx and src transgenic, p53 mutant zebrafish. Together, our study demonstrates that HBx and src overexpression induced hepatocarcinogenesis in p53 mutant zebrafish. This phenomenon mimics human HCC formation and provides potential in vivo platforms for drug screening for therapies for human liver cancer.

A zebrafish model of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by dual expression of hepatitis B virus X and hepatitis C virus core protein in liver

The mechanisms that mediate the initiation and development of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) associated with hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV, respectively) infection remain largely unclear. In this study we conditionally coexpressed hepatitis B virus X (HBx) and hepatitis C virus core (HCP) proteins in zebrafish livers, which caused fibrosis and consequently contributed to ICC formation at the age of 3 months. Suppressing the transgene expression by doxycycline (Dox) treatment resulted in the loss of ICC formation. The biomarker networks of zebrafish ICC identified by transcriptome sequencing and analysis were also frequently involved in the development of human neoplasms. The profiles of potential biomarker genes of zebrafish ICC were similar to those of human cholangiocarcinoma. Our data also showed that the pSmad3L oncogenic pathway was activated in HBx and HCP-induced ICC and included phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated proteinbase (MAPK) and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2), indicating the association with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) signaling pathway in ICC. Bile duct proliferation, fibrosis, and ICC were markedly reduced by knockdown of TGF-β1 by in vivo morpholinos injections.

CONCLUSION

These results reveal that TGF-β1 plays an important role in HBx- and HCP-induced ICC development. This in vivo model is a potential approach to study the molecular events of fibrosis and ICC occurring in HBV and HCV infection.

Oncocytic-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN)-derived invasive oncocytic pancreatic carcinoma with brain metastasis - a case report

Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease without effective treatments at present. It ranks as s as 4^th and 5^th in cancer-related mortality in the western countries and worldwide. Locally advanced pancreatic duct carcinoma (PDAC) and metastatic PDAC, usually found the metastases over liver, peritoneum, or lung, have been shown to be with dismal prognosis. Brain metastasis is a rare entity and most cases reported before were found post-mortem. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms of the pancreas (IPMN) has been deemed as a precursor of PDAC with very slow progression rate. Here we reported a case diagnosed with IPMN-derived PDAC with brain metastasis. After surgeries for PDAC and brain metastasis, subsequent chemotherapy and radiotherapy were also given. One and half year after surgery, this patient is still living with good performance status, which may warrant individualization of therapeutic strategy for PDAC with only brain metastasis.

Gastric and colonic metastases from primary lung adenocarcinoma: A case report and review of the literature

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal metastasis from primary lung cancer is rare. Only a few reports have been published and the majority of described metastatic sites involved the small intestine. In the present study, we report the first case of primary lung adenocarcinoma with both gastric and colonic metastases. We also review the published literature of primary lung cancer with gastrointestinal metastasis.

Dual-colour chromogenic in-situ hybridization is a potential alternative to fluorescence in-situ hybridization in HER2 testing

AIM

Dual-colour chromogenic in-situ hybridization (dc-CISH) is an emerging methodology for characterizing genomic alterations. This study was aimed at evaluating the performance of a dc-CISH kit (ZytoVision) in determining human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status in breast cancer.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two hundred and twenty-eight invasive breast carcinomas arranged in tissue microarrays were analysed in parallel with dc-CISH, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), and immunohistochemistry. Of 227 tumours with available FISH and dc-CISH results, HER2 amplification and non-amplification were detected in 49 (21.6%) and 178 (78.4%) tumours, respectively, by both assays. The concordance between dc-CISH and FISH results showed 100% agreement (κ-coefficient=1.00). Immunohistochemically, 162 (71%), 25 (11.0%) and 41 (18%) tumours were scored 0/1+, 2+, and 3+, respectively. The corresponding results with both FISH and dc-CISH demonstrated HER2 amplification in two (3.2%), nine (36%) and 38 (93%) tumours, respectively. Complete consensus among these three methods was observed in 197 cases, representing 98% of all 3+ and 0/1+ tumours (κ-coefficient=0.92). Confirmatory testing of 25 2+ tumours showed complete consensus between FISH and dc-CISH.

CONCLUSIONS

dc-CISH is a promising alternative to FISH in HER2 testing, and the single-institute incidence of HER2 amplification in breast cancer in Taiwan is 21.2%.

De novo malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the kidney

The kidney is a relatively infrequent site for solitary fibrous tumor (SFT). Among the previously reported cases, only two cases of malignant renal SFT developing via dedifferentiation from a pre-existing benign SFT have been reported. Here we reported a case of de novo malignant renal SFT clinically diagnosed as renal cell carcinoma in a 50-year-old woman. The tumor was circumscribed but unencapsulated and showed obvious hemorrhagic necrosis. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of patternless sheets of alternating hypercellular and hypocellular areas of spindle cells displaying mild to moderate nuclear atypia, frequent mitoses up to 8 per 10 high power fields, and a 20% Ki-67 proliferative index. Immunohistochemical studies revealed reactivity for CD34, CD99 and vimentin, with no staining for all other markers, confirming the diagnosis of SFT. No areas of dedifferentiation were seen after extensive sampling. Based on the pathologic and immunohistochemical features, a diagnosis of de novo malignant renal SFT was warranted. Our report expands the spectrum of malignant progression in renal SFTs. Even though this patient has been disease-free for 30 months, long-term follow-up is still mandatory.

The -174 G/C polymorphism in interleukin-6 (IL-6) promoter region is associated with serum IL-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with colorectal cancers in Taiwan

INTRODUCTION

We investigated the associations between -174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene promoter and serum IL-6 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels in Taiwanese patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The frequency of the G allele was only 0.043, which is significantly lower compared to Western analogs. On grouping genotypes as G-positive (GG and CG) and G-negative (GG), the average IL-6 level and CEA levels were significantly lower in G-positive patients than in G-negative analogs (IL-6, 3.56 +/- 4.38 vs. 15.38 +/- 9.52 pg/ml, P = 0.021; CEA, 27.7 +/- 25.7 vs. 157.7 +/- 59.6 ng/ml, P = 0.012). The patients without the G allele had higher incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, ethnicity affects the status of -174 G/C IL-6 polymorphism. This polymorphism status consequently influences the expressions of serum IL-6 and CEA and incidences of synchronous cancers of other origins.

First Report of the A2 Mating Type of Phytophthora capsici Infecting Peppers (Capsicum annuum) in Taiwan

Phytophthora capsici Leonion was first identified on pepper (Capsicum annuum L) in Taiwan in 1976. At that time, only the A1 mating type was present (2). In 2007, the A2 mating type of P. capsici was identified on tomato and eggplant in the central part of the country (1). During an excessively rainy period in mid-2008, many chili and sweet pepper fields in Taiwan suffered severe losses due to P. capsici. Symptoms included a foliar blight and stem, root, and fruit rot. Plants eventually wilted and died. Symptomatic plants were collected from chili- and sweet pepper-production areas in central, southern, and eastern Taiwan. Fifty-three isolates from single zoospores were identified by PCR using species-specific primers CAPFW/CAPRV2 (4). Mating type was determined by co-inoculating rape seed agar plates (3) with mycelial plugs of the tester and a known isolate. Pc134, maintained by the mycology unit at The World Vegetable Center, and 27220, provided by P. J. Ann at the Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, were used as reference isolates of A1 and A2 mating types, respectively. Plates were examined microscopically for oospores after 5 to 7 days of incubation at 24°C in the dark. Of the 53 isolates, 15 were identified as the A2 mating type and the remaining 38 isolates were identified as A1. The A2 mating type was found in the central and southern regions while the A1 mating type was widely distributed across all three regions. The sporangia of the A2 mating type were 60.4 to 73.4 × 40.9 to 51.8 μm (average 69.2 × 44.7 μm), whereas sporangia of the A1 mating type were 50.1 to 73.9 × 37.9 to 48.1 μm (average 61.4 × 44.1 μm). In general, the A2 mating type produced longer sporangia and only a few isolates produced chlamydospores in V8 broth and on agar. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the A2 mating type of P. capsici infecting peppers in Taiwan. The presence of both mating types in the same field has been observed. References: (1) P. J. Ann et al. Plant Pathol. Bull. 17:69, 2008. (2) L. S. Leu and C. W. Kao. Plant Prot. Bull. (Taiwan) 23:59, 1981. (3) M. M. Sautor. Mycologia 59:161, 1967. (4) C. Silvar et al. Eur. J. Plant Pathol. 112:43, 2005.

Mismatch repair protein expression in Amsterdam II criteria-positive patients in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is characterized genetically by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) has high sensitivity and specificity for identifying MMR-deficient tumours. This study investigated the clinical presentations and frequency of HNPCC in Taiwan by combined Amsterdam II criteria (AC-II) and IHC.

METHODS

In 1995-2003, 7108 patients with primary colorectal cancer registered in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Colorectal Cancer Registry were screened using AC-II. Tumour specimens were analysed for MMR protein expression by IHC, and relevant clinicopathological details were documented.

RESULTS

Some 83 patients fulfilled the AC-II. Clinicopathologically, 43 patients (52 per cent) had proximal tumours, ten (12 per cent) had poorly differentiated cancers, 17 (20 per cent) had mucinous adenocarcinoma and 51 (61 per cent) had stage I-II tumours. Seventeen patients developed second primary colonic and extracolonic cancers over a mean 7.2-year follow-up. Immunohistochemically, 58 patients were MMR protein deficient. They had a significantly earlier age of onset (P < 0.001), more proximal tumour location (P = 0.002), less advanced tumour stage (P = 0.008) and more second primary cancers (P = 0.017) compared with MMR-competent patients.

CONCLUSION

These data show significant differences in clinical features between MMR protein-deficient and MMR competent subgroups.

Transduction mechanisms of P2Z purinoceptors

The ability of extracellular ATP to increase the cation permeability of a variety of fresh and cultured cells has been known for decades, but evidence of a separate class of P2 purinoceptor, termed P2Z, which mediates this effect has only recently been obtained. Several features of the P2Z purinoceptor clearly distinguish it from other P2 purinoceptors and show that it is a ligand-gated ion channel. P2Z purinoceptors are highly selective for the ATP4- species and addition of Mg2+ in excess over ATP closes the channel. The most potent agonist is 3'-O-(4-benzoyl)benzoyl ATP which has a 10-fold lower EC50 than ATP. Ca2+ is the preferred permeant for the P2Z ion channel although it will pass ions up to the size of ethidium(+) (314 Da) in lymphocytes or fura-2 (813 Da) in macrophages. The inhibitors of the P2Z purinoceptor or its associated ion channel include suramin, amiloride analogues, high extracellular Na+ concentrations and 2',3'-dialdehyde ATP (oxidized ATP), which blocks irreversibly. Occupancy of P2Z purinoceptors stimulates a phospholipase D activity, which may be involved in membrane remodelling. Moreover, extracellular ATP causes loss of the glycosylated adhesion molecule L-selection from the surfaces of human lymphocytes by enzymic cleavage, suggesting a possible role for P2Z purinoceptors in intercellular interactions.

Inverse effects of mucin on survival of matched hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer and sporadic colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

To compare survival and histologic features of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC; Lynch syndrome) cases to well-matched sporadic colon cancers from the same patient population.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Between January 1995 and March 2002, a total of 5,138 consecutive patients underwent resection of primary colorectal adenocarcinoma in a single institution. According to the Amsterdam criteria, 56 HNPCC patients were matched to 147 sporadic colorectal cancer (SCRC) with no family history of cancer and with the same gender, tumor location, and age within 3 years. Immunohistochemical analyses were done for MUC1, MUC2, MUC3, and MUC5AC.

RESULTS

The HNPCC group had a marginally significantly better long-term outcome than the SCRC group (P = 0.058). The trend disappeared after adjustment by tumor-node-metastasis stage in a Cox model (P = 0.774). We noted a difference of >50% in the 5-year cancer-specific survival rates of HNPCC- and SCRC-mucinous groups (92% versus 31%, P = 0.0003). Interaction between mucin and HNPCC and its effects on survival were further confirmed by comparing the Cox models with and without interaction terms (hazard ratio, 0.1; P = 0.034 with adjusting stage). Patients with tumors showing dual expression of mucin and MUC1, which appeared in 11% of those with HNPCC and 50% of those with SCRC, had a lower 5-year cancer-specific survival rate than patients without (30% versus 60%; P = 0.004 by log-rank test; P = 0.039 with adjustment for tumor-node-metastasis stage).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that mucin has an inverse effect on survival in patients with HNPCC and SCRC, which might be partly explained by a lower prevalence of MUC1 expression in the mucinous HNPCC group than in the SCRC groups.

Renal cell carcinoma with t(X;17)(p11.2;q25) in a 6-year-old Taiwanese boy

Pediatric renal cell carcinoma (RCC) associated with ASPL-TFE3 gene fusion resulting from balanced translocation, t(X;17)(p11.2;q25), is a distinctive tumor entity. It is uncommon, and most reported cases have exclusively come from Western societies. We report a case of t(X;17)(p11.2;q25) RCC in a 6-year-old Taiwanese boy. The patient presented with dysuria and intermittent hematuria for 1 year. Nonenhanced CT showed a well-defined homogeneous hyperdensity lesion in the upper pole of the left kidney. This patient refused to receive immediate surgical procedures but had routine follow-ups. After a 9-month follow-up, the patient underwent total nephrectomy with a favorable outcome. Final diagnosis is established based on the characteristic microscopic features, strong nuclear TFE-3 immunoreactivity, and the presence of type 1 TFE3-ASPL fusion gene detected by reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reactions. No adjuvant therapy is given, and the patient is alive without evidence of disease for 1 year and 6 months.

Solitary rectal ulcer syndrome: an endoscopic and histological presentation and literature review

BACKGROUND

Although the clinicopathologic features of solitary rectal ulcer syndrome (SRUS) are well documented, the heterogeneous endoscopic appearance of lesions that the syndrome produces and its rare incidence may make for clinical confusion.

METHODS

Together with a literature review, we describe the variety of lesions experienced in our hospital with a series of endoscopic and histological illustrations and emphasize the diagnostic dilemma both clinically and histologically.

CONCLUSIONS

With comparison of different macroscopic presentations of SRUS, more correct diagnoses will be achieved and more successful treatments will be reported.

erb-b2 amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization in breast cancer specimens read as 2+ in immunohistochemical analysis

We conducted this study to ascertain the prevalence of erb-b2 gene amplification in breast cancer specimens read as 2+ in immunohistochemical analysis. Slides from patients with metastatic or recurrent breast cancer were eligible for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) study if they were read as 2+ immunohistochemically for erb-b2 by a certified pathologist. The PathVysion kit (Vysis, Downers Grove, IL) was used for FISH studies. Amplification of the erb-b2 gene was defined as an erb-b2/CEP17 (chromosome 17 centromere) ratio of 2 or more in 30 tumor cells counted. From May 2003 to June 2004, 221 slides were submitted from 24 hospitals around the island. Of 216 successful hybridizations, 96 (44.4%) were determined to be erb-b2 amplified. In addition, the topoisomerase IIa gene was coamplified in 11 (21%) of 53 and deleted in 8 (15%) of 53 erb-b2 amplified cases. The erb-b2 gene amplification rate was very high in cases determined to be 2+ by immunohistochemical analysis; therefore, determination of erb-b2 status by FISH in cases scored 2+ immunohistochemically is strongly recommended.

MHC class I chain-related gene A (MICA) polymorphism and the different histological types of cervical cancer

Cervical cancer has been one of the most important gynecologic cancer in Taiwan with incidence of 24/100,000 and mortality of 8.7/100,000 annually. About 70-80% are squamous cell carcinoma; the remainder are composed of various types of adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA) is expressed by keratinocytes and epithelial cells and interacts with gamma-delta T cells. Although MICA was not associated with cervical cancer in the study of Northern Sweden, there are no further studies about the association of MICA polymorphism and the different histological types of cervical cancer. We analyzed the MICA polymorphism in 110 cervical cancer cases (88 squamous cell carcinoma, 12 adenocarcinoma and 10 adenosquamous carcinoma) and 82 randomly selected unrelated controls from 1994 to 2000 in the Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. DNA was extracted part from leukocytes of peripheral blood, part from tumor tissue and 5 polymorphic microsatellite alleles (A4,A5,A5.1,A6,A9) of MICA were identified by a polymerase chain reaction-based (PCR) technique using ABI Prism 377-18 DNA sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The phenotypes, alleles and genotypes of MICA gene were calculated. There was no association with cervical cancer patients and non-cervical cancer patients (p=0.337, 0.356 and 0.414). After dividing the cervical cancer patients into 3 major histological types (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma), the result was still the same (p=0.598, 0.172 and 0.617) in our study. We found no association between MICA gene polymorphism and cervical cancer in Taiwan. Different histological types of cervical cancer also have no significant correlation with MICA gene polymorphism. It demonstrates that polymorphism of MICA gene bears no relation to cervical cancer and the different histological types of cervical cancer in Taiwan. We need further studies for identifying the factors causing the differentiation of cancer cells of the uterine cervix.

In vitro hepatic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells

This study examined whether mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which are stem cells originated from embryonic mesoderm, are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. MSCs were isolated from human bone marrow and umbilical cord blood, and the surface phenotype and the mesodermal multilineage differentiation potentials of these cells were characterized and tested. To effectively induce hepatic differentiation, we designed a novel 2-step protocol with the use of hepatocyte growth factor and oncostatin M. After 4 weeks of induction, cuboidal morphology, which is characteristic of hepatocytes, was observed, and cells also expressed marker genes specific of liver cells in a time-dependent manner. Differentiated cells further demonstrated in vitro functions characteristic of liver cells, including albumin production, glycogen storage, urea secretion, uptake of low-density lipoprotein, and phenobarbital-inducible cytochrome P450 activity. In conclusion, human MSCs from different sources are able to differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells and, hence, may serve as a cell source for tissue engineering and cell therapy of hepatic tissues. Furthermore, the broad differentiation potential of MSCs indicates that a revision of the definition may be required.

A histologic and immunohistochemical analysis of defective vaginal healing after continence taping procedures: a prospective case-controlled pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to investigate vaginal rejection of polypropylene mesh after continence taping procedures.

STUDY DESIGN

Of 700 women who had undergone the procedures, 17 women with sling erosion and 7 women with voiding difficulty or symptomatic vagina prolapse (control subjects) underwent histopathologic evaluation and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Seven women whose condition was not responding to conservative treatment and debridements had the exposed suburethral tape excised, which revealed predominant foreign body reaction and fragmented mesh that was surrounded by histiocytes and dense fibrosis. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the cell density percentage of CD 20+ cells was statistically significantly greater in the persistent defective healing group than in either the single-debridement or control group ( P = .014 and P = .014, respectively). We found statistically significant differences between the persistent defective healing and single-debridement groups and between the former and control groups in the ratios of T and B cells ( P = .035 and P = .022, respectively).

CONCLUSION

The rate of defective vaginal healing after the procedures was 2.4%. Removal of the prosthesis and surrounding tissue at various times for the 7 women resulted in histopathologic findings that suggested a immunologic reaction. The rate of persistent defective healing of the vagina was 1%.

Humoral response to p53 is associated with conserved domains II and IV mutations in human colorectal cancer: a case-control study in Taiwan

To explore the relationship between mutations of the p53 gene, p53 protein accumulation in tumor tissues and the presence of anti-p53 antibodies (Ab) in sera, a matched case-control study with 63 colorectal cancer patients positive for p53-Ab was carried out. These control patients were matched for age, gender, as well as tumor site and stage with 63 colorectal cancer patients positive for p53-Ab. The study was designed to analyze their p53 gene mutations in exons 4-9 by the single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) followed by direct sequencing, as well as measuring p53 protein accumulation by immunohistochemistry. A significantly higher frequency of p53 mutations in exon 4-9 and positive immunohistochemical staining of p53 protein was observed in tumors from p53-Ab positive patients (55.56 and 84.13%, respectively) than in tumors from p53-Ab negative patients (22.22 and 60.32%, respectively). Using a conditional logistic regression model, the humoral response to p53 was found to be associated with p53 gene mutation (OR = 3.34; 95% CI, 1.31-8.54, p=0.012) and p53 protein accumulation (OR = 3.80; 95% CI, 1.02-14.14, p=0.047). Further analysis showed that the frequency of p53 mutations located in the conserved domains II (codons 112-141) and IV (codons 234-258) was significantly higher in p53-Ab positive patients than in p53-Ab negative patients (50.00% (16/32) vs. 8.33% (1/12), p=0.015, Fisher's exact test). Thus, our study demonstrated that the generation of p53 antibodies was usually correlated with the p53 protein accumulation and p53 gene mutation, especially mutations located in conserved domains II and IV.