Clinical presentation of young people (10–24 years old) with brain tumors: results from the international MOBI-Kids study

Journal of Neuro-Oncology - We used data from MOBI-Kids, a 14-country international collaborative case–control study of brain tumors (BTs), to study clinical characteristics of the tumors in...     

胰腺癌组织VEGF和MVD表达与CT灌注成像的关系

血管内皮生长因子作为肿瘤血管生成的一种主要调控因子,与微血管密度密切相关．胰腺癌组织的血管内皮生长因子和微血管密度的测定对于判断患者的预后,指导临床治疗和判断疗效等具有重要作用．CT灌注成像可以通过无创伤检查反映胰腺癌的肿瘤血管构成, 在治疗前后提供有价值依据,对胰腺癌的诊治有重要意义．     

Vessel co‐option is common in human lung metastases and mediates resistance to anti‐angiogenic therapy in preclinical lung metastasis models

Anti‐angiogenic therapies have shown limited efficacy in the clinical management of metastatic disease, including lung metastases. Moreover, the mechanisms via which tumours resist anti‐angiogenic therapies are poorly understood. Importantly, rather than utilizing angiogenesis, some metastases may instead incorporate pre‐existing vessels from surrounding tissue (vessel co‐option). As anti‐angiogenic therapies were designed to target only new blood vessel growth, vessel co‐option has been proposed as a mechanism that could drive resistance to anti‐angiogenic therapy. However, vessel co‐option has not been extensively studied in lung metastases, and its potential to mediate resistance to anti‐angiogenic therapy in lung metastases is not established. Here, we examined the mechanism of tumour vascularization in 164 human lung metastasis specimens (composed of breast, colorectal and renal cancer lung metastasis cases). We identified four distinct histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) of lung metastasis (alveolar, interstitial, perivascular cuffing, and pushing), each of which vascularized via a different mechanism. In the alveolar HGP, cancer cells invaded the alveolar air spaces, facilitating the co‐option of alveolar capillaries. In the interstitial HGP, cancer cells invaded the alveolar walls to co‐opt alveolar capillaries. In the perivascular cuffing HGP, cancer cells grew by co‐opting larger vessels of the lung. Only in the pushing HGP did the tumours vascularize by angiogenesis. Importantly, vessel co‐option occurred with high frequency, being present in >80% of the cases examined. Moreover, we provide evidence that vessel co‐option mediates resistance to the anti‐angiogenic drug sunitinib in preclinical lung metastasis models. Assuming that our interpretation of the data is correct, we conclude that vessel co‐option in lung metastases occurs through at least three distinct mechanisms, that vessel co‐option occurs frequently in lung metastases, and that vessel co‐option could mediate resistance to anti‐angiogenic therapy in lung metastases. Novel therapies designed to target both angiogenesis and vessel co‐option are therefore warranted. © 2016 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.     

Non-fatal major bleeding during treatment with vitamin K antagonists: influence of soluble thrombomodulin and mutations in the propeptide of coagulation factor IX.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The key complication of treatment with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is bleeding. The major determinant of VKA-induced bleeding is the intensity of anticoagulation. Individual patient characteristics may also influence bleeding risk. In addition, soluble thrombomodulin (s-TM) levels and mutations in the propeptide of factor (F)IX are important candidate risk factors in this respect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A matched case-control study was designed to search for risk factors that predict bleeding during VKA treatment. We selected cases that had experienced major bleeding during treatment with VKA and matched controls without bleeding complications from the databases of two Thrombosis Services. The controls were matched for indication of treatment, age, gender, type of anticoagulant used and whether or not treatment with VKA was stopped. DNA and plasma were stored of all cases and controls. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: In total 110 patients and 220 controls consented to participate. The results indicate that s-TM levels, measured by ELISA, may be a risk indicator for bleeding [crude odds ratio 3.25 for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile (95% confidence interval 1.40, 7.51)]. Three novel mutations, determined by direct sequencing, in the gene portion encoding the propeptide of FIX were identified that do not seem to play an important role in bleeding risk during treatment with VKAs.     

冻存复苏条件对髓性白血病细胞株生物学特性的影响

目的:采用不同方法对白血病HL60细胞株进行冻存和复苏,观察生物学特性改变,筛选最佳冻存复苏方案。方法:实验于2006-04/06在吉林医药学院临床检验实验室(国家三级标准)进行。①HL60细胞株由中国科学院上海生物细胞研究所提供。将欲冷冻保存的HL60细胞调整到良好的生长状态(对数生长期),随机数字表法分成4组,离心收集后在含体积分数为0.1小牛血清的RPMI-1640培养基中分别加入二甲基亚砜,使其终浓度依次为50,100,150,200g/L。冻存15d后,每组取1支冻存管复苏并接种于细胞培养板,培养12h后用锥虫蓝拒染法计算细胞复苏率。②选择冻存条件和冻存细胞密度相同的两支冻存管,按不同方法进行HL60细胞复苏。37℃水浴传统复苏法:立即将冻存管置于37℃水浴中,待融化后800r/min离心5min,吸去上清液,加入含体积分数为0.1小牛血清的RPMI-1640培养基,混匀后接种于细胞培养板,1mL/孔,9孔/组,置于体积分数为0.05的CO2培养箱37℃继续培养。40℃溶解后再37℃恒温改良复苏法:将冻存细胞于40℃水浴中迅速溶解,转入37℃水浴箱,融化后离心、加培养基等操作同传统复苏法。复苏细胞培养12h后采用锥虫蓝染色计算细胞存活率。③用无血清RPMI-1640培养基制备HL60细胞悬液,按3×107L-1密度接种于细胞培养板中,1mL/孔,然后分别加入体积分数为0.05,0.1,0.12,0.15,0.2的灭活小牛血清,每种血清浓度设置8个试验孔,并分别于培养12,24,36,48,60,72,84,96h后计数每孔细胞数量,并绘制细胞生长曲线。结果:①不同浓度二甲基亚砜冻存后HL60细胞复苏率的比较:二甲基亚砜200g/L组的细胞复苏率明显低于二甲基亚砜50,100,150g/L组[(64.6±2.8)%,(87.0±1.4)%,(86.4±2.1)%,(85.7±2.8)%;t=25.44,P<0.01],二甲基亚砜50,100,150g/L组间差异无显著性意义(t=0.82～1.44,P>0.05)。②不同复苏方法HL60细胞存活率的比较:与37℃水浴传统复苏法比较,40℃溶解后再37℃恒温改良复苏法的细胞存活率显著升高[(69.5±1.5)%,(87.4±1.8)%,t=23.24,P<0.01]。③RPMI-1640培养基不同血清含量对HL60细胞生长情况的影响:在体积分数为0.05的血清含量培养基中,HL60细胞基本不生长,且有逐渐死亡的趋势;在体积分数为0.1的血清含量培养基中,HL60细胞生长趋势明显,但生长速度相对较慢;在体积分数为0.12,0.15,0.2的血清含量培养基中,HL60细胞生长迅速,3种血清浓度间细胞生长趋势无明显差异。结论:以50g/L二甲基亚砜作为HL60细胞冻存保护剂、联合40℃溶解后再37℃恒温改良复苏法可使细胞保持最佳生物学特性,体积分数为0.12的血清含量为HL60细胞常规培养的最适浓度。     

免疫磁珠分选骨髓衍生肝干细胞亚群c-Kit+lin-

目的:利用免疫磁性细胞分选系统分离纯化骨髓衍生肝干细胞亚群c-Kit lin-。方法:实验于2006-07/08在南方医科大学实验动物中心完成。6～8周龄的SPF级纯系BALB/C雄性小鼠10只,体质量18～20g。收集小鼠股骨骨髓细胞,利用免疫磁性细胞分选系统,通过两步法分选纯化c-Kit lin-:将获取的lin-细胞悬液8℃条件下1500r/min离心10min,弃上清,按80μL/107加入Buffer重悬细胞。按20μL/107加生物素抗体磁珠,混匀,4℃冰箱孵育15min,按1mL/107加入Buffer洗细胞1次,8℃条件下1500r/min离心10min,弃上清,按500μL/108加入Buffer重悬细胞。Buffer500μL润MS柱,悬液过柱后,Buffer500μL/次洗柱3次,柱子脱离磁场,加1mLBuffer,用配套柱塞推出柱中的c-Kit lin-细胞,收集到c-kit lin-细胞,细胞计数。取2.0×106个细胞分成10等份,流式细胞仪分析c-Kit lin-细胞纯度,计算回收率,评估纯化效率,苔盼兰染色检测纯化前后的细胞活力。计算活细胞的百分率。细胞纯度和细胞回收率的计算:细胞纯度=分离产物中的阳性细胞数/分离细胞的总细胞数×100%,细胞回收率=分离产物中的阳性细胞数/起始标本阳性细胞总数×100%。结果:10只小鼠均进入结果分析。利用免疫磁性细胞分选系统分选出的骨髓衍生肝干细胞亚群c-Kit lin-细胞纯度和回收率分别为(77.98±2.34)%,75.40%,纯化前后细胞活力不受影响。结论:免疫磁性细胞分选系统能有效分选骨髓衍生肝干细胞亚群c-Kit lin-,纯度和回收率高,且不影响细胞活力。     

The effect of suprapubic catheterization versus transurethral catheterization after abdominal surgery on urinary tract infection: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND/AIM: Transurethral catheterization is generally associated with a higher incidence of urinary tract infections than suprapubic catheterization; however, suprapubic catheterization is associated with other disadvantages such as higher costs and a more difficult technique, and at the moment there is no consensus about the use of both catheter systems. Therefore, a prospective randomized study was performed to investigate the effects of suprapubic catheterization and transurethral catheterization in patients undergoing surgery on the incidence of urinary tract infections and patient satisfaction. METHODS: Patients who underwent an elective laparotomy were randomized and received a suprapubic or transurethral catheter. The primary end point was urinary tract infection. Other parameters of urinary tract infection, as well as duration of catheterization, hospital stay, and number of recatheterizations and of relaparotomies were monitored. Treatment 'per protocol' was also analyzed after exclusion of patients receiving another catheter than randomized for. Patients were asked for their satisfaction with the catheters and complaints during and after catheterization. RESULTS: 165 patients were eligible, of whom 19 patients had to be excluded. 75 patients were allocated to receive the suprapubic catheter and 71 the transurethral catheter. There was no difference in the incidence of a urinary tract infection between the suprapubic group (n = 9/75; 12%) and the transurethral group (n = 8/71; 11%). Most patients (6/9) who developed a urinary tract infection in the suprapubic group, however, underwent recatheterization because of postoperative complications/sepsis and relaparotomy. The incidence of urinary tract infections in patients who received a suprapubic catheter and not a transurethral catheter was 3/59 (5%). The patients did not differ with respect to satisfaction and complaints. Being a men, recatheterization and duration of catheterization are risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of a urinary tract infection between a suprapubic catheter and a transurethral catheter in patients undergoing major surgery was not different. A potential advantage of the suprapubic catheter (reduction of urinary tract infections) is probably partly negated, because transurethral catheters were used if recatheterization was indicated during the postoperative stay or due to complications.     

Automated Network Assembly of Mechanistic Literature for Informed Evidence Identification to Support Cancer Risk Assessment

Background: Mechanistic data is increasingly used in hazard identification of chemicals. However, the volume of data is large, challenging the efficient identification and clustering of relevant data.Objectives: We investigated whether evidence identification for hazard assessment can become more efficient and informed through an automated approach that combines machine reading of publications with network visualization tools.Methods: We chose 13 chemicals that were evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs program incorporating the key characteristics of carcinogens (KCCs) approach. Using established literature search terms for KCCs, we retrieved and analyzed literature using Integrated Network and Dynamical Reasoning Assembler (INDRA). INDRA combines large-scale literature processing with pathway databases and extracts relationships between biomolecules, bioprocesses, and chemicals into statements (e.g., “benzene activates DNA damage”). These statements were subsequently assembled into networks and compared with the KCC evaluation by the IARC, to evaluate the informativeness of our approach.Results: We found, in general, larger networks for those chemicals which the IARC has evaluated the evidence to be strong for KCC induction. Larger networks were not directly linked to publication count, given that we retrieved small networks for several chemicals with little support for KCC activation according to the IARC, despite the significant volume of literature for these specific chemicals. In addition, interpreting networks for genotoxicity and DNA repair showed concordance with the IARC KCC evaluation.Discussion: Our method is an automated approach to condense mechanistic literature into searchable and interpretable networks based on an a priori ontology. The approach is no replacement of expert evaluation but, instead, provides an informed structure for experts to quickly identify which statements are made in which papers and how these could connect. We focused on the KCCs because these are supported by well-described search terms. The method needs to be tested in other frameworks as well to demonstrate its generalizability. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9112