In vivo MRI of cancer cell fate at the single-cell level in a mouse model of breast cancer metastasis to the brain.

Metastasis (the spread of cancer from a primary tumor to secondary organs) is responsible for most cancer deaths. The ability to follow the fate of a population of tumor cells over time in an experimental animal would provide a powerful new way to monitor the metastatic process. Here we describe a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that permits the tracking of breast cancer cells in a mouse model of brain metastasis at the single-cell level. Cancer cells that were injected into the left ventricle of the mouse heart and then delivered to the brain were detectable on MR images. This allowed the visualization of the initial delivery and distribution of cells, as well as the growth of tumors from a subset of these cells within the whole intact brain volume. The ability to follow the metastatic process from the single-cell stage through metastatic growth, and to quantify and monitor the presence of solitary undivided cells will facilitate progress in understanding the mechanisms of brain metastasis and tumor dormancy, and the development of therapeutics to treat this disease.     

乳腺癌患者血清Leptin和VEGF的表达

目的：研究瘦素（Leptin）、血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）在乳腺癌患者血清中的表达，探讨其在乳腺癌诊断中的意义。方法：选择乳腺癌患者36例，乳腺良性增生病变患者31例，另选56例健康女性作为对照。分别用放射免疫分析（RIA）和酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）测定这些患者术前血清Leptin、VEGF。结果：正常对照组与良性病变组、乳腺癌组Leptin存在明显差异，正常对照组与乳腺癌组，良性病变组与乳腺癌组VEGF存在明显差异。乳腺癌患者术前血清Leptin、VEGF含量与有无淋巴结转移具有相关性。结论：乳腺癌患者术前血清Leptin、VEGF可作为鉴别乳腺良恶性肿瘤有无转移的指标。     

Exhaled nitric oxide in healthy children: Variability and a lack of correlation with atopy

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical produced by several lung cells via the enzyme nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) and can be easily measured in exhaled air by chemiluminescence analysis. As the iso-enzyme iNOS may be induced by cytokines and endotoxin, NO is elevated in several chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Prior to using exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) as a non-invasive marker of airway inflammation in daily routine, the role of possibly influencing factors such as age, time of the day, smoking exposure and intra-individual variability have to be clarified. NO concentrations were measured in 107 healthy children aged 4–18 years at an expiratory flow of 184 ml/s. Spirometry and a skin-prick test were performed and a questionnaire on family history of atopy, personal symptoms of atopic disease and smoke exposure was completed. For intra-individual variability nitric oxide was measured in six children three times daily on 6 consecutive days. Median eNO concentration was 5.7 p.p.b., and increased significantly with age but did not vary with gender. No correlation was found between eNO and smoke exposure, positive skin-prick test, FEV ₁, MEF₂₅ and time of the day. There was no circadian rhythm found in the six children measured on 6 consecutive days, but the eNO showed an intra-individual coefficient of variation of 25.9%. With the help of a two-compartment model of the lung the alveolar NO concentration was estimated to be 4.1 p.p.b and was shown to be constant with age, whereas the airway part of NO steadily increased with age. When comparing eNO values with standardized measurement techniques, the age of the children and the large intra-subject coefficient of variation have to be taken into account, whereas in healthy children subject-specific factors such as atopic history, gender and skin test reactivity did not affect eNO measurement.     

原位杂交法检测卵巢上皮癌中诱导型一氧化氮合酶mRNA

目的 :研究卵巢上皮性癌诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)的转录水平。方法 :原位杂交法检测 71例卵巢上皮性癌 ,13例卵巢良性肿瘤及 11例正常卵巢组织中iNOSmRNA表达水平。结果 :卵巢上皮性癌中iNOSmRNA高于正常卵巢组织和卵巢良性肿瘤 ,P<0 .0 5。但卵巢上皮性癌Ⅲ ,Ⅳ期与Ⅰ ,Ⅱ期比较无显著差异 ,P>0 .0 5。分化程度比较 ,中、低分化组明显高于高分化组 ,但中、低分化组织间差异无显著性。结论 :诱导型一氧化氮合酶转录水平的升高 ,是引起诱导型一氧化氮合酶水平升高的主要原因 ,在卵巢上皮性癌发生、发展中发挥一定作用     

Effects of Nephritis No.3 Recipe on Nitric Oxide,Nitric Oxide Synthase Secreted by Cultured Mesangial Cells in Rats and the Gene Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

Objective:To explore the effect of the Nephritis No.3(N-3)recipe on nitric oxide(NO),nitric oxide synthase(NOS)secreted by cultured mesangial cells(MC)and its gene expression of the in-ducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS).Methods:The drug(nephritis No.3)-containing serum was preparedwith serum pharmacological technique,and then was applied to react on mesangial cells cultured In fetalcalf serum(FCS)and cells cultured in FCS plus lipopolysaccharide.To observe the secretion of NO andNOS and the gene expression of iNOS by means of RT-PCR.Results:Under the two kinds of culture con-ditions,the content of NO and NOS in the groups with drug-containing serum were higher than thosewithout drug-containing serum(P<0.05,P<0.01),and the expression of iNOS mRNA was up-regula-ted too.Conclusion:The N-3 could significantly promote the secretion of NO and NOS and the mRNA ex-pression of iNOS in rats.     

急性胰腺炎大鼠血浆内皮素和一氧化氮水平变化及卡托普利的早期干预作用

目的 观察急性胰腺炎大鼠血浆内皮素、一氧化氮水平变化及血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂卡托普利对其的早期干预作用。方法 63只SD大鼠分对照组、急性胰腺炎组、卡托普利干预组3组进行不同处理。对照组仅作胃窦切开再缝合术；急性胰腺炎组用十二指肠闭襻法制作急性胰腺炎模型；卡托普利干预组在胰腺炎模型制备后立即腹腔注射卡托普利针(5mg／kg)，在病程不同时点测定血浆内皮素、一氧化氮水平，并观察胰腺组织病理学改变。结果 急性胰腺炎组随病变的进展，胰腺炎病理由水肿向出血坏死发展，而内皮素和一氧化氮从两者平行升高逐渐转向内皮素单一升高，致内皮素／一氧化氮比值上升；卡托普利干预组则胰腺炎病理改变减轻，胰腺组织病理学评分降低，且血浆内皮素水平低于急性胰腺炎组，而一氧化氮总体水平与急性胰腺炎组比较差别无显著性意义，内皮素／一氧化氮比值基本与对照组一致。结论 早期应用卡托普利可维持内皮素与一氧化氮平衡，对大鼠急性胰腺炎病变可能有保护作用。     

Immunohistochemical analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) in ameloblastomas

BACKGROUND: To clarify the possible role of nitric oxide (NO) and stress proteins in oncogenesis and cytodifferentiation of odontogenic epithelium. Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and heat shock proteins (HSPs) were analyzed in ameloblastomas as well as in tooth germs. METHODS: Specimens of seven tooth germs, 36 benign ameloblastomas and five malignant ameloblastomas were examined by immunohistochemistry using antibodies against iNOS and 27-, 60- and 70-kDa HSPs (HSP27, HSP60 and HSP70). RESULTS: Immunoreactivity for iNOS was detected in normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells and was higher in malignant ameloblastomas than in tooth germs and benign ameloblastomas. HSP27 was expressed constitutively in all odontogenic epithelial cells in tooth germs and benign and malignant ameloblastomas. Expression of HSP60 and HSP70 was detected in normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelial cells and was prominent in cells neighboring the basement membrane. HSP60 reactivity showed no apparent difference between normal and neoplastic odontogenic epithelium, whereas HSP70 expression was slightly higher in benign and malignant ameloblastomas than in tooth germs. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of iNOS might be associated with malignant potential of epithelial odontogenic tumors. Elevated expression of HSP70 is considered to be involved in neoplastic transformation of odontogenic epithelial cells.     

High serum levels of tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8 in severe asthma: markers of systemic inflammation?

BACKGROUND: Severe asthma is characterized by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and neutrophilic inflammation in the airways. Blood cytokines, markers of 'systemic' inflammation, may be a feature of amplified inflammation in severe asthma. OBJECTIVE: To detect differences in IL-8, TNF-alpha, IL-16 and IL-13 levels in the serum(s) of stable severe and mild-moderate asthmatics related to blood leucocytes proportion, airway calibre and exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels. METHODS: We assessed cytokine serum levels by ELISA and blood leucocyte counts by an alkaline peroxidase method in 20 healthy controls, 22 mild-moderate [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)(%pred): 89+/-3] and 14 severe asthmatics [FEV1(%pred): 49+/-2]. RESULTS: IL-8 and TNF-alpha levels were higher in severe asthmatics than in mild-moderate asthmatics or in controls (P<0.05). No differences in IL-16 and IL-13 levels were detected. Severe asthmatics showed higher circulating neutrophil and eosinophil number than controls (P<0.05). In severe asthmatics, exhaled NO levels were superior than in controls (P<0.05), but inferior than in mild-moderate asthmatics (P<0.05). We found positive correlation between TNF-alpha levels and exhaled NO (r=0.67; P=0.01) or circulating neutrophil counts (r=0.57; P=0.03) in severe asthmatics. CONCLUSION: sTNF-alpha and sIL-8 are markers of 'systemic' inflammation in severe asthmatics, in conjunction with augmented circulating neutrophils, suggesting the involvement of neutrophil-derived cytokine pattern in severe asthma.     

VEGF-C和VEGF-D蛋白表达在胰腺癌淋巴转移中的意义

目的探讨胰腺癌中VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白表达与淋巴结转移之间的相关关系,阐明癌周淋巴管增生在胰腺癌淋巴转移中的作用及意义。方法免疫组化检测30例胰腺癌组织中VEGF-C、VEGF-D的表达及其与临床病理、淋巴结转移的关系。结果胰腺癌VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白表达阳性率分别为73%(22/30)、57%(17/30),肿瘤周边部位显著高于肿瘤中心部位,其表达与肿瘤的部位、分化程度、组织学类型无关,与肿瘤的TNM分期有关,Ⅲ~Ⅳ期显著高于Ⅰ~Ⅱ期。在VEGF-C、VEGF-D蛋白阳性组,淋巴结转移均显著增多。结论VEGF-C和VEGF-D与诱导胰腺癌淋巴管生成,促进肿瘤细胞淋巴道转移有关。     

Endothelial Apoptosis and Chronic Transplant Vasculopathy: Recent Results, Novel Mechanisms

Chronic transplant vasculopathy (CTV) is a progressive form of vascular obliteration affecting the arteries, arterioles and capillaries of solid organ transplants. It is characterized by intimal accumulation of mononuclear cells, vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), myofibroblasts and connective tissue. Mounting evidence, based on animal models and human biopsy results, suggests that acute and persistent rejection triggering apoptosis of endothelial cells (EC) plays a pivotal role in CTV. The precise mechanisms that underlie the induction of fibroproliferative changes in association with endothelial apoptosis have yet to be clearly delineated. Recent observations in the field of apoptosis research provide some important mechanistic clues. First, endothelial apoptosis creates a state of hyperadhesiveness for mononuclear cells, thus facilitating sustained leukocyte infiltration. Second, phosphatidylserine-dependent engulfment of apoptotic cells by infiltrating mononuclear leukocytes promotes transforming growth factor-beta1 production. Third, apoptosis of EC triggers extracellular matrix (ECM) proteolysis thus initiating the production of fibroproliferative/fibrogenic ECM fragments. The relative importance of these mechanisms in the pathophysiology of CTV will need to be addressed in vivo. Yet, these recent developments provide a new mechanistic framework that will help better define the importance of immune-mediated EC apoptosis in the regulation of vascular repair.