A case of congenital supratentorial tumor: Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor or primitive neuroectodermal tumor?

Two embryonal CNS tumors, atypical teratoid/rabdoid tumor (AT/RT) and primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), may be confused with each other and misdiagnosed. Here we report an infant with a congenital supratentorial tumor, which was detected by fetal MRI at 37 weeks gestation. On routine histological examination, the tumor was composed mainly of small undifferentiated cells, among which many rhabdoid cells and occasional sickle‐shaped embracing cells were observed. No mesenchymal or epithelial areas were evident. Our impression was that the tumor was an atypical example of AT/RT. Immunohistochemically, almost all the tumor cells were strongly positive for vimentin. However, epithelial membrane antigen was notably negative, and most of the tumor cell nuclei were clearly positive for INI1. In addition, many tumor cells were positive for neurofilament protein. There were also occasional small areas containing many tumor cells positive for glial fibrillary acidic protein. Finally, a diagnosis of PNET, with a rhabdoid phenotype and expression of neuronal and glial markers, was made. In the present case, application of INI1 immunostaining was very helpful for distinguishing PNET from AT/RT.     

Expression of cannabinoid receptors and neurotrophins in human gliomas

Recent studies have shown an anti-tumour activity of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 in gliomas. This effect was mediated by neurotrophins in breast and prostate carcinoma, while in gliomas this relationship has not yet been considered. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, neurotrophin NGF and NT-3 and their receptors TrkA and TrkC in glioma and endothelial cells. The analysis was performed in 14 gliomas and 2 non-tumour brain specimens by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction (RTQ-PCR). Gliomas showed a weak immunoreactivity for CB1 and CB2 in tumour and in endothelial cells, and for NGF/TrkA mainly in tumour cells, while a moderate/diffuse immunoreactivity was found for NT-3/TrkC. CB2 was expressed on 3 out of 6 low-grade gliomas and in all high-grade gliomas. Non-tumour brain tissues were weakly positive in astrocytes and endothelium for CB1, CB2, NT-3 and TrkC and negative for NGF and TrkA. By RTQ-PCR, gliomas showed low mRNA levels of NGF/TrkA and moderate levels of CB1, NT-3 and TrkC. CB2 mRNA expression was low or absent. A potential role of cannabinoids, particularly of CB2 agonists devoid of psychotropic side effects, in glioma therapy could have a basis in glioblastomas, because they were all positive, though weakly, to CB2. The presence of neurotrophins and their receptors, mainly NT-3 and TrkC, suggests a possible role of these pathways in glioma growth/invasion, but further investigations are required to verify this hypothesis and a potential relationship between cannabinoids and neurotrophins.     

慢性粒细胞白血病骨髓细胞体外培养净化作用实验研究

目的 :采用 FISH方法直接在干细胞水平对慢性粒细胞白血病 (CML )患者自体骨髓体外培养前后的间期细胞进行 bcr/abl融合基因检测 ,从而探讨 CML 骨髓细胞体外培养对自体骨髓移植物的净化作用。方法 :分离初治的慢性期 Ph+ CML 7例骨髓单个核细胞 (MNCs) ,体外培养 10 d,用免疫磁珠 (MACS)富集培养前后的 CD34+ 细胞 ,通过流式细胞仪检测培养前后 MNCs中 CD34+ 干细胞比例 ,然后用 FISH方法检测其中 bcr/abl融合基因 ,同时分别用正常人细胞及 K5 6 2细胞株作阴性及阳性对照。结果 :(1) 7例患者骨髓细胞培养前后 CD34+ 细胞中 bcr/abl融合基因平均检出率分别为 85 .3%± 4 .9%和 78%± 5 .1% ,有统计学意义 (P<0 .0 5 ) ,(2 )培养前培养体系中 CD34+ 细胞数量为 (6 .0 6 0± 1.5 6 4 )× 10 5个 ,培养后体系中的 CD34+细胞数量为 (5 .974± 1.4 2 4 )× 10 5个 ,两者无明显差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。 (3)在对照组中假阳性率为 2 .5 % ,假阴性率为 2 %。结论 :自体骨髓细胞体外培养对 CML 病人的骨髓肿瘤细胞有一定程度的净化作用 ;FISH技术直接在干细胞水平检测 bcr/abl融合基因 ,且能定量分析 ,较传统方法更适合对骨髓净化进行评价 ,为骨髓净化提供了一种更方便、可靠的评定方法     

人Heparanase基因真核和原核表达载体的构建及融合蛋白的表达

目的：构建人Heparanase基因的真核、原核表达载体，大肠杆菌表达其融合蛋白．方法：采用反转录．聚合酶链反应从人肝癌细胞株HepG2cDNA中，分别扩增出Heparanase编码基因，用限制性内切酶BamHI消化后，插入真核表达载体pcDNA3．1中，经酶切鉴定与测序证实后，连接成包括完整的人Heparanase基因ORF区的真核表达载体，以亚克隆法构建于原核表达载体pRSET的相应酶切位点，转化大肠杆菌BL21菌株，异丙基β-D硫代半乳糖苷(IPTG)诱导产生融合蛋白．结果：构建的人Heparanase基因表达载体经序列测定证实，与GenBank登录结果完全一致；双酶切鉴定证实，克隆基因正确插入载体pcDNA3．1及pRSET；SDS-PAGE证实融合蛋白表达成功．结论：成功构建了人Heparanase基因真核、原核表达载体，成功正确表达了6His／Heparanase融合蛋白     

不同性别飞行学员人格特征的比较

目的 :探讨男女飞行学员人格特征的差别 ,为选拔战斗机女飞行员提供心理选拔方法的参照 .方法 :女学员组为某飞行学院 2 2名女飞行学员 ,男学员组为同一飞行学院 4 3名男飞行学员 .采用卡特尔 16种个性因素测验 (16PF) ,应用DXC多项心理测评仪进行集体测试 .结果 :在 16PF的 2 4个分析项目中 ,情绪的稳定性 (C)、兴奋性 (F)、敢为性 (H)、怀疑性 (L)、紧张性 (Q4)、适应与焦虑、内向与外向等 7个因子分男学员和女学员有显著差异 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ,其中在稳定性、兴奋性、敢为性和外向性等 4个因素上 ,女学员的分数显著高于男学员 (P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) ;而在怀疑性、紧张性、焦虑性等 3个因子分上则是男学员显著高于女学员(P <0 .0 5或P <0 .0 1) .结论 :女飞行学员的个性特点是情绪稳定 ,轻松兴奋 ,冒险敢为 ,适应环境 ,趋于外向 ,紧张困扰和焦虑较少 .本调查结果表明 ,女飞行学员的人格特征基本符合战斗机飞行员人格结构的要求     

胰岛素和睾酮对Ishikawa细胞葡萄糖转运蛋白4表达的影响

目的探讨胰岛素(INS)和睾酮(T)对多囊卵巢综合征(PCOS)子宫内膜腺上皮细胞生长的影响和葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)表达的调节机制。方法体外培养Ishikawa细胞,予不同浓度INS(90、60、30、3、0.3 U/L)或T(10-3、10-4、10-5、10-6、10-7mmol/ml)刺激Ishikawa细胞48 h,MTT法检测INS、T对Ishikawa细胞生长的作用;免疫细胞化学检测GLUT4蛋白在Ishikawa细胞定位表达;分别以30 U/L INS和10-5mmol/ml T刺激Ishikawa细胞24和48 h,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)方法测定INS和T对Ishikawa细胞GLUT4 mRNA表达的影响。结果(1)不同浓度的INS均可促进Ishikawa细胞的生长,随着INS浓度的增加,INS促进Ishikawa细胞生长作用越强,INS浓度自0.3~30 U/L时,Ishikawa细胞生长依次加强,与对照组相比均有显著性差异(P<0.01)。INS浓度达60、90 U/L时,细胞生长状况与INS浓度为30 U/L相似。不同浓度的T均可抑制Ishikawa细胞的生长,随着T浓度的增加,T抑制Ishikawa细胞生长作用越明显。T浓度自10-7、10-6、10-5mmol/ml,Ishikawa细胞生长依次减弱,与对照组相比均有显著性差异(P<0.01,P<0.05),T浓度达10-4、10-3mmol/ml时,细胞生长抑制状况与T浓度10-5mg/ml相似。(2)GLUT4蛋白,定位表达于Ishikawa细胞的细胞浆内。(3)Ishikawa细胞中GLUT4 mRNA表达,在INS组和T组均较对照组减弱(P<0.01,P<0.05),INS组比T组减弱更明显(P<0.05),且INS和T作用24和48 h GLUT4 mRNA表达无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论不同浓度INS和T均可影响Ishikawa细胞生长,并降低GLUT4 mRNA的表达,推测PCOS高胰岛素、高雄激素血症的病理生理特性有可能影响子宫内膜的代谢过程,与子宫内膜的病变相关。     

Executive functions processed in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices: Intracerebral study

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to investigate the neurocognitive network in the frontal and lateral temporal cortices that is activated by the complex cognitive visuomotor tasks of letter writing. METHODS: Eight epilepsy surgery candidates with implanted intracerebral depth electrodes performed two tasks involving the writing of single letters. The first task consisted of copying letters. In the second task, the patients were requested to write any other letter. The cognitive load of the second task was increased mainly by larger involvement of the executive functions. The task-related ERD/ERS of the alpha, beta and gamma rhythms was studied. RESULTS: The alpha and beta ERD as the activational correlate of writing of single letters was found in the sensorimotor cortex, anterior cingulate, premotor, parietal cortices, SMA and the temporal pole. The alpha and beta ERD linked to the increased cognitive load was present moreover in the dorsolateral and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex and surprisingly also the temporal neocortex. Gamma ERS was detected mostly in the left motor cortex. CONCLUSIONS: Particularly the temporal neocortex was activated by the increased cognitive load. SIGNIFICANCE: The lateral temporal cortex together with frontal areas forms a cognitive network processing executive functions.     

Amputation of a crossover 2nd toe in the presence of hallux valgus

Background: There are many surgical procedures for the correction of hallux valgus and crossover 2nd toe deformity. Amputation of a crossover 2nd toe is often performed as a salvage procedure if the primary 2nd toe corrective procedure fails.Aims: To assess the outcomes of amputating a crossover 2nd toe in the presence of hallux valgus in elderly patients above 70 years old; as a primary procedure.Materials and methods: Seven patients (8 ft) underwent amputation of their crossover 2nd toe. A disease specific questionnaire using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was implemented measuring pain, deformity, discomfort, and walking distance.Results: The mean age of the patients was 82 years old, range 74–89 years old. Amputation of the 2nd toe significantly reduces pain, discomfort and the appearance of deformity, there was no difference in the patient’s walking distance after surgery.Conclusion: We recommend this type of surgery as a primary procedure in elderly patients above 70 years old, if the first ray is not causing symptoms.     

川芎嗪对P2X3受体介导的大鼠伤害性兴奋传入的作用

通过动物痛行为反应(缩足反射)确定局部和鞘内应用川芎嗪(TMP)对ATP等P2X受体激动剂所致大鼠足底急性伤害性行为反应的影响。P2X3受体拮抗剂TNP-ATP(0．3μmol／L)明显抑制P2X受体激动剂ATP(1μmol／L)或α，β-meATP(0．6μmol／L)引起的大鼠足底急性伤害性反应。大鼠足底局部应用TMP(0．1-10mmol／L)剂量依赖性地对ATP(1μmol／L)或α，β-meATP(0．6μmol／L)引起的伤害性反应具有抑制作用。鞘内应用TMP(50mmol／L)对ATP(1μmol／L)或α，β-meATP(0．6μmol／L)引起的伤害性反应具有抑制作用。结果表明，TMP可通过阻断P2X3受体介导的伤害性兴奋传入抑制P2X受体激动剂引起的大鼠足底急性伤害性反应。