Congenital hepatic artery aneurysm simulating pancreatic carcinoma

The authors report a case of a hepatic artery aneurysm that simulated a mass in the head of the pancreas. The correct diagnosis was made preoperatively based on several findings: curvilinear calcification within the mass on CT, a well-defined cystic collection on ultrasound, absence of biliary duct dilatation or jaundice, and presence of other aneurysms.     

TRAIL-receptor expression is an independent prognostic factor for survival in patients with a primary glioblastoma multiforme

SummaryPurpose In order to improve the survival of patients with a glioblastoma multiforme tumor (GBM), new therapeutic strategies must be developed. The use of a death inducing ligand such as TRAIL (TNF Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand) seems a promising innovative therapy. The aim of this study was to quantify the expression of the death regulating receptors TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2 and TRAIL on primary GBM specimens and to correlate this expression with survival.Experimental design Expression of TRAIL and TRAIL-receptors was assessed by immunohistochemistry, both quantitatively (% of positive tumor cells) and semi-quantitatively (staining intensity) within both the perinecrotic and intermediate tumor zones of primary GBM specimens. RT-PCR of GBM tissue was performed to show expression of TRAIL receptor mRNA.Results Immunohistochemistry showed a slight diffuse intracytoplasmic and a stronger membranous staining for TRAIL and TRAIL receptors in tumor cells. Semi-quantitative expression of TRAIL showed a significantly higher expression of TRAIL in the perinecrotic zone than in the intermediate zone of the tumor (P=0.0001). TRAIL-R2 expression was significantly higher expressed than TRAIL-R1 (P=0.005). The antigenic load of TRAIL-R2 was positively correlated with survival (P=0.02). Multivariate analysis of TRAIL-R1 within the study group (n=62) showed that age, gender, staining intensity, antigenic load, % of TRAIL-R1 expression, were not statistically correlated with survival however radiotherapy was significantly correlated (multivariate analysis: age: P=0.15; gender: P=0.64; staining intensity: P=0.17; antigenic load: P=0.056; % of TRAIL-R1 expression: P=0.058; radiotherapy: P=0.0001). Subgroup analysis of patients who had received radiotherapy (n=47) showed a significant association of % of TRAIL-R1 expression and the antigenic load of TRAIL-R1 with survival (multivariate analysis: P=0.036, respectively, P=0.023).Multivariate analysis of TRAIL-R2 staining intensity and antigenic load, within the study group (P=0.004, respectively, P=0.03) and the subgroup (P=0.002, respectively, P=0.004), showed a significant association with survival. RT-PCR analysis detected a negative relation between the amount of TRAIL-R1 mRNA and the WHO grade of astrocytic tumors (P=0.03).Conclusions TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 expression on tumor cells are independent prognostic factors for survival in patients with a glioblastoma multiforme. Both receptors could be targets for TRAIL therapy. As TRAIL-R2 is more expressed, in comparison with TRAIL-R1, on GBM tumor cells, TRAIL-R2 seems to be of more importance as a target for future TRAIL therapy than TRAIL-R1.     

上调肝脏HO-1抑制肥大细胞脱颗粒减轻大鼠肝脏缺血再灌注损伤

目的 探索HO-1对肝脏缺血再灌注损伤中肥大细胞脱颗粒的影响。方法 将20只SD大鼠随机分成4组：假手术组（Sham组）,缺血再灌注损伤组（I/RI组）,HO-1诱导剂钴原卟啉组(CoPP组,术前24h给予CoPP,5 mg/kg)及HO-1抑制剂锌原卟啉组(ZnPP组,术前24h给予ZnPP,20 mg/kg)。建立大鼠缺血再灌注损伤模型,各组于再灌注后2h收集标本。RT-PCR检测肝脏组织HO-1 mRNA表达,Western blot检测肝脏组织HO-1蛋白表达;测定血清中ALT、AST水平;肝脏组织甲苯胺蓝染色检测肥大细胞脱颗粒数量,HE染色评价肝脏组织损伤情况。结果 与Sham组相比,I/RI组、CoPP组、ZnPP组大鼠组织HO-1 RNA和蛋白表达增加,血清ALT、AST水平升高,肥大细胞脱颗粒数量增多,肝脏细胞损伤加重。CoPP组与I/RI组相比,HO-1 mRNA和蛋白表达增加,血清ALT、AST水平减低,肥大细胞脱颗粒数量减少,肝细胞损伤减轻。ZnPP组与I/RI组相比,HO-1 mRNA和蛋白表达减少,血清ALT、AST水平升高,肥大细胞脱颗粒数量增多、肝细胞损伤严重。组间比较差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.05)。结论 HO-1过表达能减轻肝脏I/RI,其机制可能与抑制肝脏组织中肥大细胞脱颗粒有关。     

儿童失神性癫痫：乙琥胺优于丙戊酸和拉莫三嗪

儿童失神性癫痫为儿童期癫痫最常见的类型,通常使用乙琥胺、丙戊酸或拉莫三嗪治疗。但这三种常用药,哪种效果最佳且儿童最易耐受仍然未知,本研究对此进行了考察。     

Assessment of serum homocysteine, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide levels in behçet's disease

Background:

Some prominent features of Behçet’s disease (BD) are arterial and venous thromboses as a result of endothelial dysfunction. Hyperhomocysteinemia is responsible for vascular endothelial injury due to an increased frequency of thrombogenesis. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vasoconstrictor whereas nitric oxide (NO) is an endothelial vasorelaxing peptide that is responsible for the inhibition of platelet adhesion.

Aim:

To evaluate serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and determine whether hyperhomocysteinemia is considered as a contributing risk factor for venous and arterial thromboses of BD, and to correlate serum levels of ET-1 and NO with disease activity.

Materials and Methods:

We measured serum levels of Hcy, ET-1, and nitrite (NO₂⁻) in 25 patients who fulfilled the criteria of the International Study Group for BD, and compared them to those of 15 healthy control subjects. Levels of Hcy and ET-1 were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), whereas serum nitrite (NO₂⁻) levels were measured by using Griess reaction as an indicator for NO production. All the patients were screened for a history of venous thrombosis and subdivided into thrombotic and nonthrombotic subgroups according to their thrombotic history. Patients with BD were divided into two subgroups, active and inactive, according to their clinical and laboratory findings.

Results:

There were significant increases in serum levels of Hcy, ET-1, and nitrite in BD patients compared to those in controls. There was a significant increase in serum Hcy levels in thrombotic compared to nonthrombotic subgroups. Positive correlations were detected between the serum ET-1 and nitrite levels with disease activity in BD patients.

Conclusion:

Hyperhomocysteinemia may play some role in the development of venous and arterial thromboses in BD. Increased NO production might ave critical biological activities that are relevant to pathological events in the active period of the disease.     

乳腺癌术后化疗后放疗期间同期或序贯内分泌治疗的临床观察

目的 探讨乳腺癌术后化疗后放疗期间同期或序贯内分泌治疗的临床效果.方法 收集2003年1月～2007年1月本院行乳腺癌手术治疗且病理证明激素受体阳性的乳腺癌患者100例,将其分为同期组和序贯组,每组各50例.同期组给予化疗后放疗同期内分泌治疗,序贯组给予化疗后放疗序贯内分泌治疗.比较两组患者的临床疗效,随访统计两组患者毒副反应发生率及长期生存率.结果 同期组放射性肺炎、放射性肺纤维化、放射性皮肤纤维化发生率（分别为6.0％、10.0％、8.0％）与序贯组（分别为6.0％、8.0％、6.0％）比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.同期组局部复发率（8.0％）、远处转移率（10.0％）及5年生存率（80.0％）与序贯组（分别为10.0％、14.0％、82.0％）比较,差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）.结论 同期和序贯内分泌治疗并没有增加放疗的不良反应发生率,不会影响放疗的敏感性及总生存率.