Extracellular matrix remodeling in oral submucous fibrosis: its stage-specific modes revealed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization

BACKGROUND: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a chewing habit-related pre-cancerous condition of the oral mucosa affecting predominantly south Asians. It is histopathologically characterized by epithelial atrophy and fibrosis of the subepithelial connective tissue. Fibrosis extends all the way into the muscle layer, leading to difficulty in mouth opening. However, the dynamics of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling with OSF progression is largely unknown. METHODS: Forty biopsy specimens of OSF and 10 of normal buccal mucosa were examined for expression/deposition modes of eight ECM molecules by histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, and in situ hybridization. RESULTS: In the early stage of OSF, tenascin, perlecan, fibronectin, collagen type III were characteristically enhanced in the lamina propria and the submucosal layer. In the intermediate stage, the ECM molecules mentioned above and elastin were extensively and irregularly deposited around muscle fibers. In the advanced stage, such ECM depositions decreased and were entirely replaced with collagen type I only. Their gene expression levels varied with progression of fibrosis, but the mRNA signals were confirmed in fibroblasts in the submucosal fibrotic areas. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that the ECM remodeling steps in OSF are similar to each phase of usual granulation tissue formation. Restricted mouth opening may be a result of loss of variety of ECM molecules including elastin into the homogeneity of collagen type I replacing muscle fibers.     

Mild gentamicin nephrotoxicity reduces the progression of chronic adriamycin nephrosis

SUMMARY: The effect of mild acute tubular injury on the progression of tubulointerstitial fibrosis was studied in pair-fed uninephrectomized male Wistar rats with established adriamycin nephrosis ( n = 34). Rats were stratified into three groups according to endogenous creatinine clearance (CrCl), proteinuria (Upr) and body weight (BW): (i) group 1 (Fe, n = 12) received a single intraperitoneal injection of ferric nitrilotriacetate (5 mg Fe/kg BW); (ii) group 2 (G, n = 10) three daily subcutaneous injections of gentamicin (60 mg/kg BW) and; (iii) group 3 (C, n = 12) saline injections. Serial CrCl (day 2, day 5, weeks 2, 4, 6 and 8) and renal histology (week 8) were examined following administration of nephrotoxin. CrCl was reduced on d2 (Fe: 0.78 ± 0.23 mL/min; mean ± SD) and day 5 (G: 0.91 ± 0.36 mL/min) as compared with C (1.22 ± 0.12 mL/min; P <0.05). There was no change in the serum creatinine and functional recovery occurred by d5 (Fe) and week 2 (G). Upr decreased transiently in G at week 2 (G: 482 ± 208 mg/day vs C: 716 ± 233; P = 0.05) despite similar food intake, baseline Upr and CrCl. At week 8, CrCl in Fe (0.84 ± 0.40 mL/min) was similar to C (0.84 ± 0.58 mL/min), whereas in G it remained stable (1.27 ± 0.39 mL/min; P <0.05). By morphometric analysis, mean relative interstitial volume (RIV) and glomerulosclerosis (GS) in Fe (RIV: 28.5 ± 13.4%; GS: 10.3 ± 12.3%) was no different to C (RIV: 24.5 ± 12.5%; GS: 20.9 ± 20.0%), whereas both parameters were reduced in G (RIV: 14.1 ± 8.1%; GS: 4.0 ± 4.8%; P <0.05). Mild gentamicin nephrotoxicity therefore reduced the progression of adriamycin nephrosis. the mechanism of this finding is unclear, but it may relate to altered glomerular and tubular cell handling of protein.     

BILIARY HYPERPRESSURE IN RAT EXTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS ALTERS HORSERADISH PEROXIDASE BILIARY EXCRETION

1. The authors investigated the effect of two extrahepatic cholestasis models (one by bile duct ligation and the other by choledocho-jugular fistula) on the hepatic clearance of horseradish peroxidase in male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into four groups. 2. In groups A (n = 5 rats) and B (n = 5), bile duct ligation was performed, while a choledocho-jugular fistula was created in groups C (n = 5) and D (n= 7). A 10 mg intravenous bolus of horseradish peroxidase was injected after 24 h (groups A and C), 48 h (groups B and D) or 1 h (Group E; five sham-operated rats). Serum and bile samples were then serially collected for 2 h. 3. In all groups, serum horseradish peroxidase levels increased soon after injection and then rapidly decreased, the curves being similar. Biliary excretion increased for 30 min and then slowly decreased. The highest horseradish peroxidase biliary concentrations and outputs were found in Group B followed by Group A; both groups had significantly higher levels than Group E. No difference was found between horseradish peroxidase biliary excretion of groups C and D and that of sham-operated rats. 4. When each group was considered separately, sampling times correlated with the corresponding ratios of bile/ plasma HRP. Significant differences were found between the relative slopes of groups A, B and E, but not between those of groups C, D and E. 5. In conclusion, bile duct obstruction greatly affects the plasma-bile transfer of fluid phase markers, such as horseradish peroxidase, while single retention, caused by choledocho-jugular fistula, has no influence. The increased biliary hyperpressure related to the duration of cholestasis may account for the degree of horseradish peroxidase transfer which, in turn, probably depends on an enhanced paracellular passage.     

口腔黏膜下纤维性变S100蛋白表达

目的 :研究口腔黏膜下纤维性变中S10 0蛋白的表达水平及其与正常口腔黏膜上皮、异常增生上皮的比较。方法 :应用免疫组织化学 (SP)法 ,检测 10例口腔黏膜下纤维性变、10例上皮异常增生、8例正常口腔黏膜上皮S10 0蛋白表达水平 ,并作对比研究。结果 :S10 0蛋白在正常口腔黏膜上皮中无表达 ,口腔黏膜下纤维性变上皮中和异常增生上皮中S10 0的阳性表达率为 5 0 %,后两者的阳性表达率明显高于正常黏膜组上皮 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;口腔黏膜下纤维性变组与异常增生上皮组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。结论 :口腔黏膜下纤维性变发生发展与S10 0蛋白过表达密切相关 ,S10 0蛋白表达强度与异常增生上皮表达强度一致。     

微血管密度与胃癌侵袭和转移的关系

目的 :探讨胃癌组织中微血管密度 (MVD)与胃癌生物学行为的关系。方法 :应用免疫组织化学S -P法和抗人因子Ⅷ相关抗原 (FⅧ -RAg)的抗体 ,标记 6 8例胃癌组织中的微血管 ,检测MVD。分析其与胃癌组织学类型、分化水平、浸润深度及淋巴结转移的关系。结果 :6 8例胃癌组织中FⅧ -RAg阳性表达 5 2例 ,占 76 .4 7%。FⅧ -RAg和MVD与分化水平、浸润深度 (P <0 .0 1)及淋巴结转移 (P <0 .0 0 1)密切相关。不同组织学类型中FⅧ-RAg的表达具有显著相关性 (P <0 .0 1) ,而MVD则与胃癌组织学类型无显著差异 (P >0 .0 5 )。 结论 :血管生成对胃癌的发展具有一定作用 ,FⅧ -RAg的检测和MVD可作为判断胃癌恶性程度和预后的生物学指标。     

MANAGEMENT OF UNCONTROLLED GLAUCOMA WITH THE MOLTENO SYSTEM

In glaucomatous eyes refractory to medication, laser techniques and conventional drainage surgery, intraocular pressure is often high, and visual loss rapid. In this situation a reliable, robust artificial outflow system is required. Molteno has evolved a plastic tube and plate device combined with a fibrosis suppression medication regimen. Thirty-eight eyes of 32 patients with uncontrolled glaucoma were treated with the Molteno system. Six months after operation mean intraocular pressure had been reduced from 41.0 ± 13.6 to 16.2 ± 5.6 mmHg. Eighteen eyes had pressures of 20 mmHg or less on no hypotensive therapy, 17 on reduced treatment. Three eyes had a pressure of 21 to 35 mmHg on treatment at six months. The 13 aphakic eyes responded as well as 25 phakic eyes. Five eyes with rubeotic glaucoma demonstrated pressures of less than 20 mmHg without therapy, four eyes with traumatic glaucoma required continuing medication with three having pressures below 22 mmHg. Of the seven eyes with uveitic glaucoma, one was lost, two required maintenance therapy; five of six surviving eyes had pressures below 20 mmHg. Fifteen eyes with congenital or juvenile glaucoma achieved pressures below 20 mmHg, three of these with timolol drops, three with timolol and acetazolamide, and nine with no treatment. While seven of seven eyes with refractory primary open-angle glaucoma attained pressures below 20 mmHg. all seven needed continuing mild hypotensive therapy. Eleven eyes underwent a one-stage procedure, while 27 eyes required a two-stage operation. Twenty-eight eyes received fibrosis suppression medication after the second stage, and 24 maintained or improved their preoperative visual acuity. Results have been encouraging: in general the Molteno system is recommended as the second drainage operation in all glaucomatous eyes in which conventional therapy has failed, and as the primary surgical procedure (after laser techniques) in eyes with rubeotic and uveitic glaucoma. Ciliary body destructive procedures should be restricted to control of symptoms in blind eyes.     

肝硬化患者高胰岛素血症对血清瘦素水平的影响

目的 探讨肝炎后肝硬化患者高胰岛素血症对血清瘦素水平的影响,以及瘦素在肝纤维化形成中的作用.方法 采用化学发光酶联免疫分析和酶联免疫吸附法分别测定30例肝炎后肝硬化患者的血清胰岛素和瘦素水平.同时选取健康体检者30例作对照组.并用HOMA模式计算胰岛素抵抗指数.结果 肝硬化患者血清瘦素、空腹胰岛素、胰岛素抵抗指数分别为(7.2±2.2)ng/ml、(17.3±6.8)mIU/L和3.97±0.48,显著高于对照组的(3.4±1.2)ng/ml、(9.7±4.1)rIU/L和1.98±0.11(P＜0.01).肝硬化Child C级患者的血清瘦素水平明显高于Child A级和Child B级患者(P＜0.01),其空腹胰岛素和胰岛素抵抗指数明显上升(P＜0.01).结论 肝炎后肝硬化患者存在高胰岛素血症,其胰岛素和瘦素间的反馈调节失衡是导致肝硬化患者血清瘦素水平上升的重要原因之一,瘦素可能是肝纤维化形成的重要促进因子.     

特发性肺纤维化的诊断及相关研究

特发性肺纤维化是间质性肺病的代表性疾病 ,其病因不明 ,预后不良。随着对本病不断的深入研究 ,诊断标准日趋完善。现结合有关文献对特发性肺纤维化的诊断和相关研究作一综述。