Proliferative fasciitis mimicking a sarcoma in a child: A case report

Proliferative fasciitis (PF) is a benign, discrete proliferation of fibroblasts or myofibroblasts in soft tissue. Proliferative fasciitis mostly occurs in adults and is often confused with a sarcoma because of its rapid growth and peculiar histological features. We report a case of PF mimicking a sarcoma which developed in a 13‐year‐old boy, who noticed a painful tumor, with gradual enlargement, in his right lower leg. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed that the tumor measured 34 mm × 20 mm × 41 mm and was located in the subcutaneous tissue. The tumor was surgically resected. Pathologically, the tumor was composed of a proliferation of atypical spindle cells, admixed with larger ganglion‐like cells. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for vimentin, cytokeratin, smooth muscle actin, HHF‐35 and Fli‐1. The tumor was subsequently diagnosed as a PF, although it was difficult to differentiate from a sarcoma. Five years after surgery, the postoperative course has been uneventful with no recurrence or metastasis.     

Pharmacologic therapy for diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy remains one of the major causes of acquired blindness in developed nations. This is true despite the development of laser treatment, which can prevent blindness in the majority of those who develop macular oedema (ME) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). ME is manifest by retinal vascular leakage and thickening of the retina. The hallmark of PDR is neovascularisation (NV) – abnormal angiogenesis that may ultimately cause severe vitreous cavity bleeding and/or retinal detachment. Pharmacologic therapy aimed specifically at preventing vascular leakage and NV would be a welcome addition to the armamentarium. PDR and ME could be prevented by improved metabolic control or by pharmacologically blunting the biochemical consequences of hyperglycaemia (e.g., with aldose reductase inhibitors, inhibitors of non-enzymatic glycation or by protein kinase C [PKC] inhibition). The angiogenesis in PDR could be treated via growth factor (e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], insulin like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) blockade, integrin (e.g., alpha-v beta-3) blockade, extracellular matrix alteration (e.g., with steroid compounds) or interference with intracellular signal transduction pathways (e.g., PKC and mitogen activated protein kinase [MAPK] pathway proteins). Some of these antiangiogenic agents may also prove useful for treating or preventing ME. Numerous potentially useful antiangiogenic compounds are in development; two drugs are presently in clinical trials for treatment of the preproliferative stage of PDR, while two are in clinical trials for treatment of ME.     

普罗布考辅助治疗高血脂非增殖型糖尿病视网膜病变患者的疗效分析

目的 探讨普罗布考在治疗非增殖型糖尿病视网膜病变合并高血脂患者的临床效果,分析普罗布考的应用价值。方法 选择要求为明确诊断为非增殖型糖尿病视网膜病变且有高血脂的患者,62例患者根据随机抽签原则分为对照组和观察组,对照组26例患者给予降血糖、眼部对症治疗,而观察组36例患者则在降血糖、对症治疗的同时服用普罗布考,用量为3片/次,2次/d。两组均治疗6个月。观察比较两组患者血脂指标、眼底指标和抗氧化指标的改善情况,比较两组疗效。结果 两组均能有效的降低血糖及糖化血红蛋白,与治疗前相比差异显著,具有统计学意义（P<0.05）,但两组对比则差异不明显。经过6个月的治疗后,观察组患者的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和T总抗氧化能力（AOC）显著上升,而丙二醛（MDA）下降,相对于治疗前差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;对照组患者治疗前后的差异较小,氧化应激指标的变化无统计学意义;治疗后两组氧化应激指标差异明显,具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组能够有效的改善眼底情况,有效率高达68.06%,而对照组仅有38.46%,两组比较差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。普罗布考对非增殖型糖尿病视网膜病变患者的视力有很明显的提高作用,经过6个月的治疗,观察组有效率为75.00%,明显高于对照组的44.23%,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。观察组患者的血脂改善情况显著,而对照组基本无改变,对比治疗后两组的血脂情况可知,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论 良好的控制血脂作用和抗氧化能力是普罗布考作用价值的体现,有利于提高患者的使用体验、治疗效果和满意度。     

人胚胎发育过程中间充质干祖细胞与造血细胞间的起源关系探讨

目的探讨人胚胎发育过程中间充质干祖细胞(MSPCs)与造血细胞间的起源关系。方法取发育不同时间药流胚胎,分离不同造血组织消化成单个细胞,于高增殖潜能集落形成细胞(HPP-CFC)培养体系培养10~14 d,倒置显微镜下挑取直径大于0.5 mm的HPP-CFC集落于液体培养体系进行二次培养,对二次培养中出现的贴壁细胞进行扩增并鉴定其细胞表面分子的表达,于不同分化体系鉴定其是否具有MSPCs的分化特性。结果本研究总结了胚胎发育不同时期主动脉-性腺-中肾(AGM)区、卵黄囊、胎肝等不同部位包括HPP-CFC在内的各类造血前体细胞的发育动态,发现从28体节开始,一定比例的AGM区HPP-CFC除能够分化产生造血细胞外,其来源的贴壁细胞具有MSPCs的分化功能,贴壁细胞在淋巴母细胞转化实验中可抑制T细胞的增殖。结论人胚胎AGM区内,部分MSPCs和造血细胞起源于共同前体。     

Soluble proteins produced by probiotic bacteria regulate intestinal epithelial cell survival and growth

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increased inflammatory cytokine levels and intestinal epithelial cell apoptosis leading to disruption of epithelial integrity are major pathologic factors in inflammatory bowel diseases. The probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) and factors recovered from LGG broth culture supernatant (LGG-s) prevent cytokine-induced apoptosis in human and mouse intestinal epithelial cells by regulating signaling pathways. Here, we purify and characterize 2 secreted LGG proteins that regulate intestinal epithelial cell antiapoptotic and proliferation responses. METHODS: LGG proteins were purified from LGG-s, analyzed, and used to generate polyclonal antibodies for immunodepletion of respective proteins from LGG-conditioned cell culture media (CM). Mouse colon epithelial cells and cultured colon explants were treated with purified proteins in the absence or presence of tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Akt activation, proliferation, tissue injury, apoptosis, and caspase-3 activation were determined. RESULTS: We purified 2 novel proteins, p75 (75 kilodaltons) and p40 (40 kilodaltons), from LGG-s. Each of these purified protein preparations activated Akt, inhibited cytokine-induced epithelial cell apoptosis, and promoted cell growth in human and mouse colon epithelial cells and cultured mouse colon explants. TNF-induced colon epithelial damage was significantly reduced by p75 and p40. Immunodepletion of p75 and p40 from LGG-CM reversed LGG-CM activation of Akt and its inhibitory effects on cytokine-induced apoptosis and loss of intestinal epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: p75 and p40 are the first probiotic bacterial proteins demonstrated to promote intestinal epithelial homeostasis through specific signaling pathways. These findings suggest that probiotic bacterial components may be useful for preventing cytokine-mediated gastrointestinal diseases.