ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of contactin-1 (CNTN-1), vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C), and its receptor VEGFR-3 (Flt-4) in primary gastric cancer and to explore the relevance among them and their correlation with clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer. MethodsThe VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, and CNTN-1 protein expressions of tumor tissues and normal gastric mucosa tissues in 68 patients with primary gastric cancer were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The Flt-4-positive vessel density (FVD) and lymphatic vessel density (LVD) were also analyzed by VEGFR-3positive and D2-40-positive staining, respectively. ResultsThe positivity rate of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, and CNTN-1 protein expression in the primary tumor was 57.4% (39/68), 60.3% (41/68), and 55.9% (38/68), respectively, which was significantly higher than that in the normal gastric mucosa tissues 〔20.6% (14/68), 23.5% (16/68), and 16.2% (11/68)〕， P=0.000. The expressions of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, and CNTN-1 protein were significantly correlated with TNM stage, lymphatic vessel invasion, and lymph node metastasis (Plt;0.05). The expression of CNTN-1 protein was significantly correlated with VEGF-C (r=0.372, P=0.002) and VEGFR-3 protein expression (r=0.308, P=0.011). In tumor tissues of sixtyeight patients the FVD was (10.41±9.38)/HP, which was significantly lower than LVD 〔(18.19±7.44)/HP〕, P=0.000. Elevated FVD and LVD was significantly found in patients with tumor characterized by later TNM stage, severer lymphatic vessel invasion, and severer lymph node metastasis (Plt;0.05). The FVD of tumor was significantly correlated with VEGF-C (P=0.029) and CNTN-1 protein expression (P=0.003). The LVD of tumor was not significantly correlated with CNTN-1 (P=0.727), VEGF-C (P=0.173), and VEGFR-3 protein expression (P=0.924). The patients with positive expression of VEGF-C, VEGFR-3, and CNTN-1 protein showed poorer prognosis (Plt;0.05). ConclusionsElevated expression of CNTN-1 protein is observed in primary gastric cancer and correlated with VEGF-C and VEGFR-3 protein expression, indicating that combined detection has great value in prediction of invasive potential and prognosis. VEGF-C-mediated CNTN-1 overexpression may promote lymphatic invasion via lymphangiogenesis pathway in patients with gastric cancer.
Objective
To explore the relevances of serum prolactin level to clinical symptoms and disease activities of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE).
Methods
From December 2008 to December 2014, 63 female patients who met the American Rheumatism Society diagnostic criteria of SLE in the First People’s Hospital of Chengdu were collected as the SLE group, and other 20 healthy females were collected as the control group. The serum prolactin level was determined by immunofluorescence, and the disease activity of SLE was assessed by SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). The relevances of serum prolactin level to clinical symptoms and disease activity of SLE patients were analyzed.
Results
The mean serum prolactin level was (22.35±14.86) ng/mL in the SLE group and (15.30±8.54) ng/mL in the control group, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). In the 63 SLE patients, 15 (23.8%) had higher serum prolactin level compared with the normal ones. According to the SLEDAI score, the SLE patients were divided into stable group (25 patients), mild activity group (21 patients), moderate activity group (10 patients), and severe activity group (7 patients); and their serum prolactin levels were (20.43±11.23), (22.50±13.54), (27.97±21.20), and (33.91±18.18) ng/mL, respectively; the differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were statistically significant differences (P<0.05) between the SLE patients with hyperprolactinemia and the ones with normal serum prolactin level in a number of clinical symptoms such as serositis, kidney damage,hematological system damage, and hypocomplementemia, but the serum prolactin level was not significantly correlated with the SLEDAI (rs=0.217, P=0.088).
Conclusions
Less hyperprolactinemia is found in SLE patients. Serum prolactin level is correlated with multiple clinical symptoms and laboratory indexes but not related to disease activity in SLE patients.
Objective To validate the mechanism of effect of hepatic artery ischemia on biliary fibrosis after liver transplantation and the prevention method. Methods Eighteen male dogs were established into the concise auto orthotopic liver transplantation models and assigned into three groups randomly: hepatic artery ischemia (HAI) group, TBB group (transferred the blood by a bridge duct ) and control group, each group contained 6 dogs. After opening portal vein, the samples were cut from liver in each group at the time of 6 h, 3 d and 14 d. The pathological modifications of intrahepatic bile ducts were observed and expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were detected in the three times. Expressions of Smad3 and phosphate-Smad3 as well as mRNA of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in intrahepatic bile ducts were detected 14 d after opening portal vein.Results Compared with control group, the collagen deposition and lumens stenosis in biliary vessel wall were more obviously in HAI group. In TBB group, the pathological modifications were slighter compared with HAI group. The positive cell index of TGF-β1 reached peak on day 3 after opening portal vein, then decreased in TBB group, and which in HAI group kept increase and was significantly higher than that in TBB group （Plt;0.05）. The expression level of phosphate-Smad3 and transcriptional level of α-SMA mRNA were 1.04±0.13 and 1.12±0.55 in TBB group on day 14 after opening portal vein, which were significantly higher than those in control group (0.59±0.09 and 0.46±0.18) and lower than those in HAI group (1.82±0.18 and 1.86±0.73), the diversities among three groups were significant (Plt;0.05). There was not significant difference of expression of Smads among three groups (Pgt;0.05). Conclusions Hepatic artery ischemia could increase the deposition of collagen fibers and the transdifferentiation of myofibroblast in bile duct and result in the biliary fibrosis by activating the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway. The bridging bypass device could lessen the biliary fibrosis caused by hepatic artery ischemia by inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1/Smads signal transduction passageway.
Objective To study the function and mechanism of G protein coupled receptor kinase interacting protein 1(GIT1) RNA hairpin (GIT1-RNAh) in osteoblast migration. Methods The sixth passage osteoblasts were divided into 2 groups and were infected by GIT1-RNAh (experimental group) and green fluoresence protein RNA hairpin (GFP-RNAh) (control group) adenovirus for 12 hours respectively. Each group was further classfied into two groups according to with or without platelet-drived growth factor (PDGF) stimulation. The GIT1 expression and Paxillindistribution was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Paxillin phosphorylation was detected by Western Blot. The localization of Paxillin was determined by co-immunofluorescence staining after transfection with cyanine fluorescence protein tagged GIT1RNAh (CFP-GIT1-RNAh)(experimental group) and GFP-RNAh (CFP-GFP-RNAh)(control group). The role of GIT1-RNAh (experimental group) and GFP-RNAh (control group) adenovirus in osteoblasts migration was determined by wound healing assay. Results Immunofluorescence staining results showed that the GIT1-RNAh significantly inhibited endogenous GIT1 expression, interfered Paxillin distribution.Western Blot results showed that Paxillin phosporylation was obviously inhibited in osteoblasts infected with GIT1-RNAh adenovirus (P＜0.05). The wound healing assay results howed that GIT1-RNAh adenovirus significantly inhibited osteoblast migration induced by PDGF. Conclusion GIT1-RNAh inhibits osteoblasts migration by interfering paxillin distribution and decrease Paxillin phosphorylation.
【Abstract】 Objective To detect the expression of Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa-interacting protein 3 (BNIP3)in cell death induced by nutrition deprivation in nucleus pulposus cells so as to further understand the mechanism of deathin nucleus pulposus cells. Methods Two adult Sprague Dawley rats, male or female, weighing 150-200 g, were involvedin this experiment. The cells isolated from rat caudal disc were cultured under the condition of L-DMEM culture media,10%FBS, and 21%O2 (control group) and under the condition of DMEM-free glucose culture media, no serum, and 1% O2(experimental group). The expressions of BNIP3 gene and protein were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR,immunofluorescence staining, and Western blot. The cell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were measuredby flow cytometry at 24, 48, and 72 hours after culture. Results The expression of BNIP3 decreased in the control group;the expressions of BNIP3 showed an increasing tendency with time in the experimental group, and BNIP3 combined withmitochondria. Significant differences were observed in the expressions of BNIP3 gene and protein between 2 groups at the othertime (P lt; 0.05) except that no significant difference was observed in the expression of BNIP3 gene at 24 hours (P gt; 0.05). Thecell apoptosis rate and mitochondrial membrane potential were significantly lower in the experimental group than those in thecontrol group (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Upregulation of BNIP3 and translocation to mitochondria may be involved in nucleuspulposus cell death in nutrition deprivation.
ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) mediated contactin-1 (CNTN1) gene silencing on growth of human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 transplanted tumors in nude mice.MethodsEighteen nude mice (4-week-old male BALB/c) were randomly equally divided into three groups: blank control group, empty vector group, and silencing group. The MDA-MB-468 cells (blank control group), MDA-MB-468 cells transfected by nonsense shRNA (empty vector group), and MDA-MB-468 cells transfected by shRNA (silencing group) were collected in the logarithmic growth period, respectively. The subcutaneous tumor models of nude mice were prepared by the subcutaneous injection of the different group cells. The tumor growth was observed and the expressions of CNTN1 and Ki-67 proteins in the transplanted tumor were detected by the immunohistochemistry.ResultsThe xenograft models of human breast cancer cells were established successfully. The tumor growth in the silencing group was significantly slower than that of the other two groups at every 3 d point (P<0.05). The tumor volume and the tumor weight in the silencing group were significantly smaller or slighter than those of the other two groups at day 18 (P<0.05). The positive rates of CNTN1 and Ki-67 protein expressions in the tumor tissues of the silencing group were lower than those of the other two groups (P<0.05), respectively.ConclusionSilencing expression of CNTN1 gene might inhibit growth of breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 transplanted tumors in mude mice.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the methods of pharmacoeconomic evaluation model for hepatitis C therapies and to identify shortcomings of the existing modeling research by comparing the model structure, hypothesis and methodological differences, and to provide suggestions for the construction of high-quality hepatitis C pharmacoeconomic evaluation models.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI and WanFang Data databases were electronically searched to collect relevant literatures on the pharmacoeconomic evaluation models for hepatitis C therapies from August 2014 to August 2019. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and evaluated the quality of the included studies. Then, the data related to the model structure, methods, and assumptions were compared and summarized.ResultsMost of the 46 studies that finally included used similar modeling methods. Ignoring different modeling elements would cause overestimation or underestimation of the value of hepatitis C therapies. Model structure of all studies were similar and key parameters were from the same source. Forty-five studies measured the cost of drugs and medical cost of health status. All studies used quality-adjusted life years as the outcome and reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Thirty studies conducted one-way sensitivity analysis and probability sensitivity analysis.ConclusionsThe included studies share similar methodological designs and have high quality in general. However, there are some differences and deficiencies in research perspective, model types, model assumptions and model verification. Future pharmacoeconomic evaluation model of hepatitis C therapies should report the results of the whole society, establish dynamic model to consider the impact of transmission, make half-cycle correction for long periods, consider the recurrence after cure, model liver transplantation, and verify the model.
Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） and the phenotypic transition after the activation of fibroblasts by the supernatant of cultured tumor cells．Methods The growth tendency of fibroblasts was tested by the MTT assay．The expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA） and VEGF-A mRNA were tested by RT-PCR．The expressions of α-SMA and VEGF-A protein were tested by immunohistochemistry and Western blot．Results The MTT assay indicated that the conditional medium which contained tumor cells supernatant could obviously promote the growth of the fibroblasts． RT-PCR and Western blot manifested that α-SMA expressed by the fibroblasts which cultured by normal medium reached its peak on day 5，then decreased to a low level on day 7．When the medium contained 2 ng/ml transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1），the fibroblasts could steadily express more α-SMA．But the above two mediums could not make the fibroblasts express the VEGF-A. When using the conditional medium，the α-SMA peak advanced on the third day and maintained at a high level，so as the expression of the VEGF-A．Conclusions The results suggested that fibroblasts can be activated to be myofibroblasts when using the conditional medium．The best activation time of the fibroblasts is consistent with the time of the VEGF-A expression at the highest level by the activated fibroblasts．The fibroblasts which activated at the best time are expected to become a kind of cells which can be used for promoting revascularization．
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of cardiac valve regurgitation in patients with pituitary prolactinoma treated with bromocriptine for a long time.
MethodsBetween January 2012 and February 2013, 26 pituitary prolactinoma patients treated with bromocriptine for at least 6 months were included in the observation group, and 101 healthy people were regarded as the control group. Transthoracic echocardiography were performed on these patients for cardiac regurgitation, and the echocardiographic data were compared between the two groups.
ResultsTrace tricuspid regurgitation was presented in 38.46% of patients in the observation group, and 19.80% of the controls (P=0.046). Interventricular septum thickness was (8.62±0.31) mm in patients in the observation group, and it was (8.57±0.12) mm in the controls (P=0.042).
ConclusionNo clinical significant cardiac valve regurgitation has been observed in pituitary prolactinoma patients treated by bromocriptin for a long time. Long-term echocardiographic follow-up of these patients is necessary.
Objective To explore the expression characteristics of chaperone interacting protein (CHIP) in normal, scar and chronic ulcer tissues and its relationship with wound healing. Methods Twenty biopsies including scar tissues(n=8), chronic ulcer tissues(n=4) and normal tissues(n=8)were used in this study. The immunohistochemical staining (power visionTMtwo-step histostaining reagent) was used to explore the amount and expression characteristics of such protein.Results The positive expression of CHIP was observed in fibroblasts, endothelial cells and epidermal cells in dermis and epidermis. It was not seen ininflammatory cells. The expression amount of CHIP in scar tissues, chronic ulcer tissues and normal tissues was 89%, 83% and 17% respectively. Conclusion Although the function of CHIP is not fully understood at present, the fact that this protein is expressed only at the mitogenic cells indicates that it may be involved in mitogenic regulation during wound healing.
