Methylation of tumor suppressor genes is related with copy number aberrations in breast cancer

This study investigates the relationship of promoter methylation in tumor suppressor genes with copy-number aberrations (CNA) and with tumor markers in breast cancer (BCs). The study includes 98 formalin fixed paraffin-embedded BCs in which promoter methylation of 24 tumour suppressor genes were assessed by Methylation-Specific Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MS-MLPA), CNA of 20 BC related genes by MLPA and ER, PR, HER2, CK5/6, CK18, EGFR, Cadherin-E, P53, Ki-67 and PARP expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Cluster analysis classed BCs in two groups according to promoter methylation percentage: the highly-methylated group (16 BCs), containing mostly hyper-methylated genes, and the sparsely-methylated group (82 BCs) with hypo-methylated genes. ATM, CDKN2A, VHL, CHFR and CDKN2B showed the greatest differences in the mean methylation percentage between these groups. We found no relationship of the IHC parameters or pathological features with methylation status, except for Catherin-E (p = 0.008). However the highly methylated BCs showed higher CNA proportion than the sparsely methylated BCs (p < 0.001, OR = 1.62; IC 95% [1.26, 2.07]). CDC6, MAPT, MED1, PRMD14 and AURKA showed the major differences in the CNA percentage between the two groups, exceeding the 22%. Methylation in RASSF1, CASP8, DAPK1 and GSTP1 conferred the highest probability of harboring CNA. Our results show a new link between promoter methylation and CNA giving support to the importance of methylation events to establish new BCs subtypes. Our findings may be also of relevance in personalized therapy assessment, which could benefit the hyper methylated BC patients group.     

双眼形觉剥夺和硫酸软骨素蛋白多糖降解对视皮质N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体亚基2A的影响

Light deprivation is known to induce a significant decrease in the percentage of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 2A subunit (NR2A)-expressing neurons during development.The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of binocular form deprivation (BFD) and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) degradation on NR2A expression via an immunohistochemical study,around the end of a critical developmental period.The results show that the positive staining of NR2A in the normal rat visual cortex increases gradually from postnatal 3-5 weeks (P < 0.05),but the changes from 5 weeks to 7 weeks were not significant.The positive staining of NR2A following BFD in the rat visual cortex slightly increased from postnatal 3-7 weeks (P > 0.05).The positive staining of NR2A in the CSPG-treated group was insignificant compared with the BFD group at the same time point from 4 weeks to 7 weeks (P > 0.05).Thus,the effect of BFD on NR2A expression in the rat visual cortex was similar to that of CSPG degradation around the end of the critical developmental period.     

10例子宫乳头状浆液性癌p130蛋白及mRNA表达分析

目的 探讨p130蛋白和mRNA在子宫乳头状浆液性癌(UPSC)中的表达及其临床病理意义.方法 收集10例Ⅰ期UPSC患者标本作为UPSC组,10例相同分期高级别子宫内膜癌作为病例对照组,另取相同年龄10例正常增生期子宫内膜标本作为正常对照组.采用HE染色、光镜观察和免疫组织化学方法检测p130蛋白表达水平,实时定量R...     

Childhood anaplastic large cell lymphoma has a high incidence of ALK gene rearrangement as determined by immunohistochemical staining and fluorescent in situ hybridisation: a genetic and pathological correlation

Anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) comprises 10-15% of childhood non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). Systemic ALCL is highly associated with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene translocations with over-expression of ALK protein. We studied ALK rearrangements using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) and ALK immunohistochemical staining in 43 paediatric systemic ALCLs. FISH (performed on 35 cases) identified a translocation in 29 cases (83%). Immunohistochemistry identified ALK over-expression in 42/43 cases (97%) with the single ALK-negative case demonstrating an ALK rearrangement by FISH, indicating 100% incidence of ALK translocations.     

慢性神经病理性疼痛大鼠模型背根神经节c-jun表达及意义

目的观察大鼠背根神经节（DRG）中即刻早期基因（IEGs）c-jun在慢性压迫性损伤（CCI）疼痛模型中的变化，探讨慢性神经痛的发生机制。方法将SD大鼠18只，随机分成CCI组和假手术组各9只，CCI组参照Bennett和Xie等方法建立CCI模型，假手术组仅暴露坐骨神经主干，不结扎。于术前2d和术后1、3、5、7d测定两组机械痛阈和热痛阈，术后7d取大鼠双侧L4、L5和L6DRG，免疫组化法分析DRGc-jun变化。结果CCI组损伤侧于术后3d出现热痛觉过敏（P〈0.05），术后7d达高峰（P〈0.01），且DRGc-jun出现明显表达；而健侧和假手术组没有表达（P〈0.01）。结论初级感觉神经元中c-jun表达是神经损伤的标志和始动因素。     

Prognostic analysis in chronic hepatitis B patients: a retrospective study of 216 cases about Scheuer scores, in situ expression of viral antigens and tissue hepatitis B virus DNA levels.

BACKGROUND: Most of the previous studies of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection concentrated on serum samples. Liver biopsy specimens for HBV have not been systematically analyzed. This study was performed to analyze some histopathological indicators (Scheuer scores, the expression of HBV antigens in situ, HBV DNA quantification) in the biopsy samples and showed the relationship among them and the prognosis of chronic hepatitis. METHODS: A total of 216 consecutive chronic HBV-infected patients were followed up by clinical and laboratory data and classified into two groups at first: carcinogenesis and non-carcinogenesis. The non-carcinogenesis also included two groups: cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis. The non-cirrhosis was still divided into fluctuation and normalization at last. Histological activity index was described by Scheuer scores. Two-step immunohistochemical staining showed the expression of viral antigens in situ. Tissue HBV DNA levels were determined by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Regression analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the expression of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and grading, as well as between hepatitis Bx (HBx) protein and grading or staging of Scheuer scores. Positive correlations between grading or staging and prognosis were statistically significant. The expressions of HBeAg and HBx protein were higher in patients with cirrhosis than those without cirrhosis. Scheuer score was the most important indicator of prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: HBeAg and HBx protein can be used as indicators of hepatitis activity and their positive expressions increase the risk for cirrhosis remarkably. In addition to be a marker of liver damage, Scheuer score is the most reliable indicator of the prognosis.     

Malignant solitary fibrous tumor of breast: a rare case report

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is rare mesenchymal neoplasm that has been originally and most often documented in the pleura. Recently, the ubiquitous nature of the SFT has been recognized with reports of involvement of numerous sites all over the body such as: upper respiratory tract, somatic tissue, mediastinum, head, and neck. Less than 10 cases SFT of breast have been reported. Herein, we presented a 52-year-old Asian female with SFT of breast, this tumor showed predominant malignant features. To our knowledge, SFT of breast with such malignant evidence is extremely rare.     

Immunohistochemical localization of metallothionein and p53 protein in pancreatic serous cystadenomas

Introduction  The objective of this study was to determine the expression levels of metallothionein (MT) and p53 protein, recognized neoplastic transformation markers, in pancreatic serous cystadenomas (SCA) and adenomocarcinomas. Materials and Methods  Neoplastic pancreatic tissue was taken from 20 patients with diagnosed benign (SCA: 5 cases) or malignant tumors (adenomocarcinomas: 15 cases) and control pancreatic tissue from healthy persons who had died in car accidents. Sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin. Immunohistochemical localization of MT and p53 protein was carried out by LSAB2-HRP using specific antibodies against MT and p53. Results  Metallothionein expression was observed only in the epithelial cells of the neoplastic tissue of SCAs. MT expression in the cystadenomas was weaker than in the healthy pancreatic tissue. No tissue was found with p53 protein expression. In the adenomocarcinomas, positive staining for MT was observed in 67% and p53 was positive in the carcinoma cells. Conclusion  The weak MT expression and lack of p53 protein expression in pancreatic SCAs confirms the lack of local invasive potential of the neoplastic lesion. Increased expressions of MT and p53 were observed in the less differentiated tumors. Thus the expression of MT may be a potential prognostic marker for tumors.     

Pleural mesothelioma: An unusual case diagnosed on pleural fluid cytology and immunocytochemistry

Mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm with relationship to occupational and environmental exposure to asbestos. Its accurate and early diagnosis is often difficult. We present an unusual clinical presentation and diagnostic dilemma in a 30‐year‐male, who presented with neck pain and diffuse edema of left upper limb. The color Doppler ultrasound revealed venous thrombosis. The right supraclavicular lymph node biopsy revealed a poorly differentiated carcinoma. The patient had mild bilateral pleural effusion, the characteristic cytomorphological features of mesothelioma on fluid cytology were helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.