Cyclooxygenase-2 and c-erbB-2 expression in colorectal carcinoma assessed using tissue microarrays.

The c-erbB-2 and cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma, but the relationship is not fully understood. This study evaluated the significance of c-erbB-2, COX-2, and Ki-67 protein expression in 185 patients with colorectal carcinoma using tissue microarrays. Only one case expressed cerbB-2 protein. COX-2 expression was noted in 166 of 176 cases (94.3%), and the Ki-67 expression rate averaged 5.9%. There was no relationship among c-erbB-2, COX-2, and Ki-67 protein expression, and COX-2 protein expression was not related to tumor stage, differentiation, size, depth of invasion, lymphatic or vascular invasion, or patient survival. While the contribution of c-erbB-2 to colorectal carcinogenesis may be of little quantity, COX-2 may be deeply involved in colorectal carcinogenesis.     

Hep par 1 antibody stain for the differential diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: 676 tumors tested using tissue microarrays and conventional tissue sections.

A well-characterized positive marker for hepatocellular differentiation would be a useful tool for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The recently commercially available Hep Par 1 antibody (clone OCH1E5.2.10) has been reported to be a sensitive marker for HCC in paraffin embedded sections. Of non-hepatocellular tumors, occasional carcinomas have been reported to stain, most frequently gastric adenocarcinomas. This study further evaluated the staining of this antibody on a large number of neoplasms using tissue microarray technology as well as conventional tissue sections. Six hundred seventy-six tumors, including 19 cases of HCC, were tested. Eighteen of 19 cases of HCC were positive, 3 showing <5% staining. Two cases negative on the array showed focal staining when whole tissue sections from the same tumors were used. 16 of 34 cases of gastric carcinomas gave positive reactions, 4 of these showed less than 5% staining. Staining of gastric carcinomas was not limited to signet ring-type carcinomas or to areas of hepatoid differentiation. Only 1 of 11 cases of cholangiocarcinoma showed focal staining. We also noted several other tumors to stain occasionally, including adrenal cortical carcinoma (3/13), yolk sac tumor (2/9), colonic adenocarcinoma (8/106), lung carcinoma (3/52), ovarian carcinoma (5/48), and endocervical adenocarcinoma (1/5). We did not observe staining in pancreatic carcinoma (11), renal cell carcinoma (36), breast carcinoma (85), melanoma (25), or mesothelioma (5). This study supports Hep Par 1 as a useful marker in the differential diagnosis of HCC, but with significant limitations. Cautious use of this antibody in a panel with other positive (alpha fetoprotein, CD10, polyclonal carcinoembryonic antigen) and negative (epithelial membrane antigen, monoclonal carcinoembryonic antigen, CD15) markers of hepatocellular differentiation may aid in the accurate diagnosis of HCC.     

Stem cell marker expression in small cell lung carcinoma and developing lung tissue

Histopathologic and clinical findings suggest that small cell lung cancer is derived from a multipotent proximal airway epithelial cell. In order to investigate the histogenetic origin of small cell lung cancer, we compared stem cell marker expression in human fetal lung tissue, human adult bronchial tissue, and a cohort of 64 small cell lung cancers. Supporting derivation of a multipotent precursor cell, 87.5% (56/64) of small cell lung cancers showed a dot-like expression of podocalyxin-like protein 1 (PODXL-1), a marker of embryonic and hematopoetic stem cells. Of small cell lung cancers, 98.4% (63/64) ubiquitously expressed Bmi-1, a key player in self-renewal of stem cells. Oct4 and AP2gamma were not expressed. Although podocalyxin-like protein 1 did not correlate with p53 or Wilms tumor suppressor 1, known regulators of podocalyxin-like protein 1, we could demonstrate demethylated CpG islands in the podocalyxin-like protein 1 promoter in small cell lung cancer, indicating epigenetic regulation. During fetal lung development and within adult bronchial mucosa, Bmi-1 was expressed ubiquitously. In contrast, podocalyxin-like protein 1 was detected in few stromal cells during the pseudoglandular phase (n = 7) and, importantly, in clustered epithelial cells within proximal bronchi and the trachea during the canalicular phase (n = 10). Interestingly, podocalyxin-like protein 1 was not expressed in normal or metaplastic adult bronchial epithelium (n = 36) but was expressed in sparse epithelial cells in half of the cases of normal tumor adjacent bronchial mucosa (20/40). Taken together, we show that small cell lung cancers and clustered epithelial cells in developing proximal bronchi share the expression of stem cell markers, suggesting a possible histogenetic link.     

Comparison of proliferation indices in glioblastoma multiforme by whole tissue section vs tissue microarray

Tissue microarrays (TMAs) reduce the amount of tissue analyzed with the assumption that protein and gene expression patterns are homogeneous throughout tumors. Many tumor types, including glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are heterogeneous in many regards, including cell proliferation. We retrospectively compared Ki-67 labeling indices (LIs) determined by whole tissue section (WTS) vs TMA in a series of 50 GBMs from 45 patients. A paired t test indicated that the difference between average LIs obtained from a TMA vs a WTS was not significant (P = .51). There was no correlation between TMA and WTS (r = 0.042; P = .77), indicating that the methods yielded very different results in individual tumors. The Ki-67 LI did not always correlate with the tissue section in an individual tumor; however, when evaluating a large number of tumors on a TMA, the LI range and mean LI were roughly comparable with the LI range and mean LI determined from the WTS.     

Comparison of rates of virus isolation from leukocyte populations separated from blood by conventional and Ficoll-Paque/Macrodex methods.

One hundred fifty-two blood specimens, largely from immunocompromised patients, were collected in heparinized Vacutainer tubes and divided into paired aliquots of equal volume. Buffy-coat preparations, containing mixed leukocyte and separate mononuclear and polymorphonuclear leukocyte populations were obtained by treatment of blood with conventional and Ficoll-Paque/Macrodex (F-P/M) methods. The development of cytopathic effect in monolayers of WI-38 fibroblasts inoculated with cell suspensions derived from the two methods was used to assess virus infectivity. Twice as many virus isolations were obtained using F-P/M. Of those viruses isolated by both conventional and F-P/M, the development of cytopathic effect was more extensive using the latter method. Moreover, a greater variety of viruses was isolated using F-P/M method, as compared to the conventional method. The F-P/M method is no more time consuming than conventional procedures, is readily adaptable for use in the diagnostic virology laboratory, requires only minimal additional cost, and is a particularly suitable and effective means of monitoring viremia.     

沉默hHBrk1基因对肺癌细胞增殖及迁移能力的影响

目的：研究玉米Brick1的人类同源基因hHBrk1（human homology of Brick1）对肿瘤细胞增殖及迁移能力的影响。方法：用质粒介导的siRNA（small interfering RNA）技术建立hHBrk1基因表达沉默的肺癌细胞模型；用细胞生长曲线、克隆形成率实验及流式细胞术分别比较不同处理的95D细胞增殖及细胞周期的变化；用Transwell细胞侵袭实验系统研究hHBrk1表达沉默对肺癌细胞迁移能力的影响。结果：成功筛选出hHBrk1基因表达抑制的细胞模型；hHBrk1表达沉默细胞增殖能力和细胞周期与对照组相比无明显改变，但hHBrk1表达沉默细胞迁移能力明显减弱。结论：hHBrk1可能参与调控肺癌细胞迁移能力。     

Beryllium detection in human lung tissue using electron probe X-ray microanalysis.

Chronic berylliosis is an uncommon disease that is caused by the inhalation of beryllium particles, dust, or fumes. The distinction between chronic berylliosis and sarcoidosis can be difficult both clinically and histologically, as both entities can have similar presentations and exhibit nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation of the lungs. The diagnosis of chronic berylliosis relies on a history of exposure to beryllium, roentgenographic evidence of diffuse nodular disease, and demonstration of beryllium hypersensitivity by ancillary studies, such as lymphocyte proliferation testing. Additional support may be gained by the demonstration of beryllium in lung tissue. Unlike other exogenous particulates, such as asbestos, detection of beryllium in human lung tissue is problematic. The low atomic number of beryllium usually makes it unsuitable for conventional microprobe analysis. We describe a case of chronic berylliosis in which beryllium was detected in lung tissue using atmospheric thin-window energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (ATW EDXA). A woman with a history of occupational exposure to beryllium at a nuclear weapons testing facility presented with progressive cough and dyspnea and a nodular pattern on chest roentgenograph. Open lung biopsy showed nonnecrotizing granulomatous inflammation that was histologically indistinguishable from sarcoidosis. Scanning electron microscopy and ATW EDXA demonstrated particulates containing beryllium within the granulomas. This application of EDXA offers significant advantages over existing methods of beryllium detection in that it is nondestructive, more widely available, and can be performed using routine paraffin sections.     

Genesis of squamous cell lung carcinoma. Sequential changes of proliferation, DNA ploidy, and p53 expression.

Squamous cell lung carcinomas (SCCs) represent a highly malignant group of tumors, and effective treatment is greatly dependent upon early diagnosis. However, objective diagnosis of atypia is difficult and useful markers need to be defined. In this study, genomic instability, cell proliferation, and cellular accumulation of mutant p53, as reflected by DNA aneuploidy, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and p53 immunoreactivity, respectively, were evaluated in bronchial squamous metaplasia without atypia (n = 4), bronchial squamous metaplasia with low-grade atypia (n = 12), bronchial squamous metaplasia with high-grade atypia (n = 15), early-stage SCC (n = 15), and advanced-stage SCC (n = 33). Our results suggest that hyperproliferation is an early event followed by DNA aneuploidy, which in turn precedes p53 immunoreactivity in the genesis of SCC. We conclude that routine assessment of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, DNA ploidy, and p53 may be valuable for the early diagnosis of SCC.     

应用组织芯片检测食管鳞状细胞癌中Stat3信号转导通路的表达及意义

目的　探讨Stat3、CyclinD1和Bcl-2三种Stat3通路上的蛋白在食管鳞状细胞癌（esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, ESCC）发生中的作用及其在早期诊断中的意义。 方法　制作组织芯片,包含有860例ESCC组织、198例不典型增生组织、201例单纯增生组织及467例癌旁正常上皮组织,应用免疫组化方法检测三种蛋白的表达情况。 结果 （1）ESCC中三种蛋白的表达均显著高于癌旁单纯增生和正常上皮组织（P<0.05）。（2） 随着ESCC分化程度由高到低,Stat3和Bcl-2蛋白的表达逐渐增强,而CyclinD1的表达逐渐减弱。（3）三种蛋白在ESCC中的表达与患者的年龄、性别、发生部位、肿瘤大小及大体分型差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）,与癌组织浸润深度及淋巴结转移有关（P <0.05）。（4）ESCC中Stat3与CyclinD1的表达呈负相关（r=-0.699,P=0.000）;与Bcl-2的表达呈正相关（r=0.660,P=0.000）;但是CyclinD1与Bcl-2的表达无相关性。 结论　Stat3、CyclinD1和Bcl-2可能在ESCC的发生发展和浸润转移中有重要的作用,CyclinD1和Bcl-2的表达检测有助于ESCC的早期诊断。     

Association of lung carcinoma and tuberculosis.

Two hundred and twenty one consecutive cases of bronchogenic carcinomas were studied histologically for evidence of associated lesions. Seventy eight lesions were seen in 55 patients (24.8%). The most frequent was tuberculosis, seen in 29 patients. The next in frequency were scars, in 22, emphysema in 12 and thickened pleura in 7. Interstitial fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, lobar pneumonia and bronchiectasis, were other lesions, seen in very few cases. The types of carcinoma, in which associated lesions seen were, undifferentiated carcinoma (76%), adeno-carcinoma (56%), mixed tumor (37%), large cell anaplastic (25%), small cell anaplastic (23.7%) and epidermoid carcinoma in (5.44%). The incidence of tuberculous lesions in autopsies unassociated with tumor is 7%, as compared to 24.8% incidence of association with carcinoma; which is significant. There were seven scar cancers; with origin in tuberculous scars in two. The study indicates necessity of prospective study in this field.     

长链非编码RNA MIAT在非小细胞肺癌中的表达及功能研究

目的:研究长链非编码RNA心肌梗死相关转录本(MIAT)在非小细胞肺癌(NSCLC)组织及细胞系中的表达情况及其对NSCLC细胞功能的影响。方法:利用Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)数据库提取GSE19804和GSE30219数据集的生物信息学资料和临床预后资料,分析MIAT在NSCLC组织和正常肺组织中的表达差异,以及MIAT表达水平与NSCLC患者生存期的关系;用q PCR检测25对NSCLC肿瘤组织和其癌旁组织,以及NSCLC细胞系A549、NCI-H266和NCI-H1299及人正常支气管上皮细胞系HBE中MIAT的表达情况;将MIAT si RNA(si-MIAT)和对照序列(si-NC)分别转染NSCLC细胞系A549,采用流式细胞术、CCK-8实验和细胞集落形成实验检测2组细胞的增殖情况,并且用q PCR和Western blot实验检测2组细胞中细胞周期蛋白D1(cyclin D1)和细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制剂1A(CDKN1A)的表达情况。结果:GSE19804数据集分析显示MIAT在NSCLC组织中的表达高于正常肺组织(P0.05),GSE30219数据集分析显示MIAT高表达患者的生存期显著短于低表达患者(P0.01)。此外,与癌旁正常组织和HBE细胞相比较,NSCLC组织和细胞系中MIAT的表达水平升高(P0.05);si-MIAT组A549细胞中MIAT表达水平明显低于si-NC组(P0.01),且细胞活力和细胞集落数均低于siNC组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05);同时,相较于si-NC组,si-MIAT组cyclin D1的表达受到明显抑制(P0.05),而CDKN1A的表达明显升高(P0.05)。结论:NSCLC组织及细胞系中MIAT呈高表达,沉默MIAT表达可明显抑制NSCLC恶性增殖的表型。MIAT可作为NSCLC靶向治疗的潜在靶标。     

Comparison of conventional and revised isolator blood culture tubes.

A paired clinical study compared bacterial and fungal recovery from 4,553 blood cultures processed by the conventional Isolator (Du Pont Co.) and a revised Isolator consisting of a single-stoppered, round-bottom tube containing the same ingredients as the conventional tube except for an inert fluorochemical. Excluding contaminants, there were 425 positive blood cultures with 450 isolates representing 208 patients. There were no statistically significant differences between systems in the number of positive cultures or patients with positive cultures for each organism group studied, nor were there any statistically significant differences between systems in the time required for detection of positive cultures.     

P63 expression in lung carcinoma: a tissue microarray study of 408 cases.

p63 is a recently discovered member of the p53 family that has been shown to be important in the development of epithelial tissues. p63 may also play a role in squamous cell carcinomas of the lung, head and neck, and cervix, and its expression is increased in these tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of p63 in a broad spectrum of histologic types of lung tumors. A total of 441 cases of primary lung tumors with follow-up data were identified, and the paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were used to construct a duplicate core tissue microarray. After review of the tissue cores, 408 cases, consisting of 123 squamous cell carcinomas, 93 adenocarcinomas, 68 large cell carcinomas, 68 classic carcinoids, 31 atypical carcinoids, 11 large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, and 14 small cell carcinomas, were adequate for analysis. Immunohistochemistry was performed at 2 different laboratories using monoclonal antibody 4A4 to detect the expression of p63, using different staining protocols. p53 expression was also studied with immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibody DO-7. Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare the survival of p63-expressing versus nonexpressing tumors. A large proportion of squamous cell carcinomas expressed p63 (96.9%), most showing strong positive nuclear immunoreactivity. Expression in other nonsmall cell lung cancers was also present. Thirty percent of adenocarcinomas and 37% of large cell carcinomas showed p63 expression. In the neuroendocrine tumors, an increasing proportion of tumors stained for p63 as tumor grade increased; 1.9% of classic carcinoids, 30.8% of atypical carcinoids, 50% of large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas, and 76.9% of small cell carcinomas were positive. Approximately half of the positively staining neuroendocrine cases showed strong staining. Expression of p63 was of prognostic significance in neuroendocrine tumors (P < 0.0001), with higher-grade tumors more likely to express p63. Correlation between p63 and p53 expression was not observed (P = 0.18) in nonsmall cell lung cancer; however, a significant correlation between the 2 markers was found in neuroendocrine tumors (P < 0.0001). p63 staining was repeated with a different staining protocol, yielding similar results overall but a lower percentage of positive cases (34.2% vs. 48.4% of tumors positive). In conclusion, p63 expression is consistently expressed in squamous cell carcinoma in the lung, but is also expressed in a subset of adenocarcinomas and large cell carcinomas. Pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors also show p63 staining in some instances, particularly in higher-grade tumors, and the majority of small cell carcinomas are p63-positive. These results suggest that p63 may be involved in oncogenesis in a broader range of tumors than was previously thought.     

Relationship between locus coeruleus discharge rates and rates of norepinephrine release within neocortex as assessed by in vivo microdialysis.

The relationship between discharge rates of locus coeruleus noradrenergic neurons and rates of norepinephrine release was examined in the anesthetized rat. Neuronal discharge rates of locus coeruleus neurons were altered and quantified using a combined recording-infusion probe. Peri-locus coeruleus infusions of either the cholinergic agonist, bethanechol, or the alpha2-agonist, clonidine, were used to enhance or suppress neuronal discharge activity, respectively. Alterations in concentrations of extracellular norepinephrine within the prefrontal cortex were determined using in vivo microdialysis and high-pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. A linear relationship between locus coeruleus activity and norepinephrine dialysate concentration was observed between complete suppression of locus coeruleus discharge activity and approximately 300-400% of basal discharge levels (1.58+/-0.29 Hz). Above these levels, increases in locus coeruleus discharge rates were not accompanied by similar increases in dialysate norepinephrine concentrations. In general, neither activation nor suppression of locus coeruleus neuronal discharge rates appeared to alter the relationship between discharge activity and norepinephrine efflux during subsequent epochs. The one exception to this was observed during recovery from relatively high-magnitude locus coeruleus activation. In two out of three cases in which locus coeruleus discharge rates were increased greater than 450%, a recovery of norepinephrine concentrations to basal levels occurred more quickly than the recovery of locus coeruleus neuronal discharge rates to basal levels. Although limited, these latter observations suggest that dysregulation of norepinephrine release may occur following sustained activation of locus coeruleus at the highest rates examined, which may mimic those associated with intense arousal or stress.