An insight into electrical resistivity of white matter and brain tumors

BackgroundThere is a lack of information regarding electrical properties of white matter and brain tumors.ObjectiveTo investigate the feasibility of in-vivo measurement of electrical resistivity during brain surgery and establish a better understanding of the resistivity patterns of brain tumors in correlation to the white matter.MethodsA bipolar probe was used to measure electrical resistivity during surgery in a prospective cohort of patients with brain tumors. For impedance measurement, the probe applied a constant current of 0.7 μA with a frequency of 140 Hz. The measurement was performed in the white matter within and outside peritumoral edema as well as in non-enhancing, enhancing and necrotic tumor areas. Resistivity values expressed in ohmmeter (Ω1m) were compared between different intracranial tissues and brain tumors.ResultsNinety-two patients (gliomas WHO II:16, WHO III:10, WHO IV:33, metastasis:33) were included. White matter outside peritumoral edema had higher resistivity values (13.3 ± 1.7 Ω1m) than within peritumoral edema (8.5 ± 1.6 Ω1m), and both had higher values than brain tumors including non-enhancing (WHO II:6.4 ± 1.3 Ω1m, WHO III:6.3 ± 0.9 Ω1m), enhancing (WHO IV:5 ± 1 Ω1m, metastasis:5.4 ± 1.3 Ω1m) and necrotic tumor areas (WHO IV:3.9 ± 1.1 Ω1m, metastasis:4.3 ± 1.3 Ω1m), p=<0.001. No difference was found between low-grade and anaplastic gliomas, p = 0.808, while resistivity values in both were higher than the highest values found in glioblastomas, p = 0.003 and p = 0.004, respectively.ConclusionsThe technique we applied enabled us to measure electrical resistivity of white matter and brain tumors in-vivo presumably with a significant effect with regard to dielectric polarization. Our results suggest that there are significant differences within different areas and subtypes of brain tumors and that white matter exhibits higher electrical resistivity than brain tumors.     

IFI 30、PD-L1在人脑胶质瘤中的表达及与病人预后的关系

目的 探讨γ干扰素诱导蛋白30（IFI 30）、程序性死亡因子配体1（PD-L1）在人脑胶质瘤中的表达及与病人预后的关系。方法 选择2015年5月~2019年5月手术切除的103例人脑胶质瘤组织和瘤旁组织，采用免疫组织化学染色检测IFI 30、PD-L1表达情况。随访24个月，记录无进展生存期和总生存期。结果 胶质瘤组织IFI 30、PD-L1高表达率[分别为70.87%（73/103）、68.93%（71/103）]明显高于瘤旁组织[分别为19.42%（20/103）、21.36%（22/103）；P<0.001]。胶质瘤组织IFI 30表达水平与PD-L1表达水平呈明显正相关（r=0.583，P<0.05）。随访24个月，生存75例，死亡28例；多因素logistic回归分析显示，IFI 30高表达、PD-L1高表达是增加病人死亡风险的独立危险因素（P<0.05）。生存曲线分析显示，IFI 30高表达组2年累积生存率（64.52%）和2年累积无进展生存率（65.56%）均明显低于低表达组（分别为82.25%、89.45%；P<0.05）。PD-L1高表达组2年累积生存率（61.78%）和2年累积无进展生存率（60.14%）均明显低于低表达组（分别为88.52%、79.86%；P<0.05）。结论 人脑胶质瘤组织IFI 30、PD-L1呈高表达，与病人不良预后密切相关。     

长链非编码RNA PSMA3-AS1在人胶质瘤细胞中的表达及作用研究

目的 探究胶质瘤组织中lncRNA PSMA3-AS1的表达情况,以及其对胶质瘤细胞(U251、LN229、T98G和A172)增殖和侵袭能力的影响。方法 使用qRT-PCR实验检测35对胶质母细胞瘤组织和癌旁组织中PSMA3-AS1表达;结合TCGA数据库分析PSMA3-AS1表达与胶质瘤恶性程度及患者预后的关系;采用U251和T98G胶质瘤细胞系进行细胞增殖能力和侵袭能力检测;使用Western blot实验检测侵袭相关蛋白MMP-2/9表达水平。结果 TCGA数据库分析提示PSMA3-AS1在胶质瘤组织中呈高表达状态,结合35对胶质瘤组织和细胞系中PSMA3-AS1的表达,提示PSMA3-AS1在胶质瘤中表达明显上调(P＜0.05)。同时发现PSMA3-AS1表达与肿瘤直径有关(P=0.007),而PSMA3-AS1高表达的胶质瘤患者生存期较短(P=0.042)。敲低PSMA3-AS1表达后,胶质瘤细胞内PSMA3-AS1的表达水平及细胞增殖、侵袭能力明显受到抑制,侵袭相关蛋白(MMP-2/9)表达水平明显降低(P＜0.05)。结论 PSMA3-AS1在胶质瘤中呈高表达状态,具有促癌作用,可能是潜在的胶质瘤治疗靶点。     

microRNA-613调控CDK14来抑制老年胶质瘤患者瘤细胞的增殖和侵袭作用

目的 探讨microRNA-613调控细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶14(CDK14)通路来抑制老年胶质瘤患者瘤细胞增殖和侵袭的机制。方法 购自上海北诺生物科技有限公司的人脑胶质瘤细胞株U251共24株,分为shNC组、shmicroRNA-613组、Vector组、microRNA-613组,每组各6株; Western Blotting法和qRT-PCR法检测敲减microRNA-613和过表达microRNA-613后的人脑胶质瘤细胞株U251中CDK14蛋白表达水平,CCK-8细胞增殖实验、Transwell小室实验验证敲除microRNA-613和过表达microRNA-613后U251细胞的增殖、侵袭能力。结果 人胶质瘤细胞株U251敲减microRNA-613后CDK14蛋白表达增加(P<0.05); 人胶质瘤细胞株U251过表达microRNA-613后CDK14蛋白表达减少(P<0.05); 转染第24、36、48 h microRNA-613组U251细胞增殖率P<0.05); microRNA-613组U251细胞侵袭能力>Vector组,shNC组>shmicroRNA-613组(P<0.05)。结论 microRNA-613可通过调控CDK14信号转导通路来抑制人脑胶质瘤细胞U251增殖、转移。     

Optic pathway tumor in children: Toward a new classification for neurosurgical use

ObjectOptic pathway tumors (OPT) represent a challenge for pediatric neurosurgeons. Role of surgery is debated due to the high risk of iatrogenic damage, and in lasts decades it lost its importance in favor of chemotherapy. However, in some cases surgery is necessary to make biomolecular and histological diagnosis, to manage intracranial hypertension (IH) and to cooperate with medical therapies in controlling tumor relapse. With the aim to standardize selection of surgical OPT cases, we propose a simple, practical and reproducible classification.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed data of 38 patients with OPT treated at our institution (1990–2018). After careful analysis of MRI images, we describe a new classification system. Group 1: lesion limited to one or both optic nerve(s). Group 2: chiasmatic lesions extending minimally to hypothalamus. Group 3: hypothalamo-chiasmatic exophitic lesions invading the third ventricle; they can be further divided on the base of concomitant hydrocephalus. Group 4: hypothalamo-chiasmatic lesions extending widely in lateral direction, toward the temporal or the frontal lobes. Patients’ data and adopted treatment are reported and analyzed, also depending on this classification.ResultsTwenty children were operated on for treatment of OPT during the study period. Permanent clinical impairment was noted in 5 (25%) of operated patients, while visual improvement was noted in 1 patient. OS rate was 100% at 5 years, with a median follow up of 9 years (ranging from 2 to 23). Prevalence of intracranial hypertension and proportion of first-line surgical treatment decision were significantly higher in groups 3-4 compared to groups 1-2 (P < 0.001 for both tests).ConclusionSurgery can offer a valuable therapeutic complement for OPT without major risk of iatrogenic damage. Surgery is indispensable in cases presenting with IH, as in groups 3 and 4 lesions. Eligibility of patients to surgery can be based on this new classification system.     

Long Noncoding RNA UCA1 Targets miR-122 to Promote Proliferation,Migration, and Invasion of Glioma Cells

Glioma is the most common and lethal malignant intracranial tumor. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as pivotal regulators in the tumorigenesis of glioma. However, the role of lncRNA urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) in glioma genesis is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the underlying function of UCA1 on glioma genesis. The results demonstrated that UCA1 was upregulated in glioma tissue and indicated a poor prognosis. UCA1 knockdown induced by si-UCA1 significantly suppressed the proliferative, migrative, and invasive activities of glioma cell lines (U87 and U251). Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assay verified the complementary binding within UCA1 and miR-122 at the 3¢-UTR. Functional experiments revealed that UCA1 acted as an miR-122 “sponge” to modulate glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via downregulation of miR-122. Overall, the present study demonstrated that lncRNA UCA1 acts as an endogenous sponge of miR-122 to promote glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, which provides a novel insight and therapeutic target in the tumorigenesis of glioma.     

术前血液学炎性反应标志物在胶质瘤患者预后中的价值

目的 探讨术前血液学炎性反应标志物（中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比率（NLR）、单核细胞与淋巴细胞比率（MLR）和血小板与淋巴细胞比率（PLR））在胶质瘤患者临床预后中的预测价值。方法 纳入180例胶质瘤患者。应用ROC曲线确定NLR、MLR和PLR的最佳临床分界值并分组。变量组间比较采用χ²检验，通过Kaplan-Meier法和Log rank检验分析患者术后生存情况。Cox多因素回归分析预后因素。Pearson’s相关系数检验标志物间的相关性。结果 NLR、MLR和PLR的最佳分界值分别为1.90、0.33和133.38。高NLR和MLR组患者中位总生存期分别为16.8和14.8月，低NLR和MLR组分别为40.5和24.6月（均P<0.05）。高NLR组中位肿瘤复发时间为10.3月，低NLR组为28.8月（P=0.002）。NLR是胶质瘤患者的独立危险因素（HR=1.725, 95%CI: 1.042~2.853, P=0.034）。且NLR与MLR（r=0.62, P<0.001）和PLR（r=0.59, P<0.001）具有相关性。结论 术前高NLR、MLR与胶质瘤患者不良预后相关，且NLR是患者生存的独立预后因素，与肿瘤复发率密切相关。     

莱菔硫烷促进神经胶质瘤细胞凋亡的机制探讨

目的探讨莱菔硫烷(SFN)促进神经胶质瘤细胞凋亡的作用机制。方法采用噻唑蓝(MTT)法与流式细胞法检测不同浓度的SFN对神经胶质瘤U251细胞系生长的抑制作用,测定半数抑制浓度,空白对照设为对照组;采用Western blot研究SFN对U251细胞内Cyt-c的表达情况。结果不同浓度SFN组A值均低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。不同浓度SFN均对U251细胞生长有一定抑制作用,12.5μmol/l、25μmol/l、50μmol/l、100μmol/l浓度的SFN对U251细胞生长抑制率逐渐增强,各组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。但100μmol/l与200μmol/l浓度的SFN对U251细胞生长抑制率比较无统计学意义(P>0.05)。不同浓度SFN诱导细胞凋亡率及Cyt-c蛋白表达均显著高于对照组,且随着SFN浓度递增,U251细胞凋亡率、Cyt-c蛋白表达逐渐增加,各组间比较差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论SFN可能参与神经胶质瘤细胞的凋亡过程,表现为诱导凋亡U251细胞,可能与Cyt-c表达增高存在关系。     

A pediatric case of anaplastic astrocytoma with a gliomatosis cerebri; the growth pattern and changes in serum VEGF-121 levels after bevacizumab treatment

Gliomatosis cerebri (GC) is a rare diffusely infiltrating glial neoplasm that carries a poor prognosis. Because tumors are undetectable in most patients at early-stage of the onset, a useful diagnostic method is expected. We compared serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-121 levels in patients with GC or glioblastoma and controls. VEGF-121 levels were significantly higher in one patient with GC and patients with glioblastoma than in controls. VEGF-121 levels decreased in a patient with GC after bevacizumab-based therapy. Thus, VEGF-121 may be useful for diagnosing GC, its disease-monitoring and understanding its etiology.