The relationship of proliferating cell density at the invasive tumour front with prognostic and risk factors in human oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND: We hypothesise that the density of proliferating cells at the invasive tumour front (ITF) has a positive relationship with prognostic and risk factors in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS: Tissues from 47 human oral SCC specimens were collected and stained with a monoclonal antibody directed against the Ki-67 antigen using a horseradish peroxidase based two-step immunostaining method. Counting was performed on two parallel sections at the ITF using an image analyser. The Ki-67 labelling index (LI) was determined by measuring the number of nuclei/mm(2) of epithelium. RESULTS: Our results show that the density of proliferating cells is related to clinical staging, with advanced stage of disease having a significantly higher Ki-67 LI compared with early stage of disease (2111 +/- 905 vs. 1908 +/- 913; P = 0.03). Importantly, this study shows that tumours that have metastasised have a significantly higher Ki-67 LI than tumours where distant metastasis was not detected (3257 +/- 650 vs. 1966 +/- 881; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Cell proliferation, as measured by the Ki-67 LI at the ITF, has a positive relationship with clinical staging, tumour thickness, smoking status of the patient and alcohol consumption. Further, we suggest that a multicenter study with a large cohort of patients is indicated to fully elucidate whether cell proliferation at the ITF is directly related to patient survival.     

Relative frequency of solitary melanocytic lesions of the oral mucosa

Background: Solitary pigmented lesions of melanocytic origin are uncommon in the oral mucosa. These lesions include the oral and labial melanotic macule, oral melanocytic nevus, oral melanoacanthoma, oral melanoma and atypical melanocytic proliferation. The purpose of the study was twofold: to report a large series of solitary melanocytic lesions from one source, and to determine the relative frequency of these lesions. Methods: The study was based on a systematic search of the files of the Pacific Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology Laboratory, University of the Pacific, San Francisco for solitary pigmented melanocytic lesions (benign and malignant) accessed during the years 1984–2002. Results: Of the 89 430 biopsies accessed during the 19‐year period, 773 (0.83%) cases of solitary pigmented melanocytic lesions in the oral mucosa were identified. Oral and labial melanotic macules were the most common melanocytic lesions comprising 86.1% of the entire group and 0.7% of the total number of accessed biopsies. The vermilion border and gingiva were the most common sites (31.1% and 31.0% respectively). Oral melanocytic nevi comprised 11.8% of the entire melanocytic group and 0.1% of the total number of biopsies. The most common site was the palate (44%). Intramucosal nevi were the most common (64%), followed by compound nevi (16.5%) and common blue nevi (16.5%). Junctional nevi were uncommon (3.0%). Oral melanoacanthoma comprised only 0.9% of the entire melanocytic group and 0.008% of the total number of biopsies. Oral melanoma and atypical melanocytic proliferation were the least common lesions each comprising 0.6% of the entire melanocytic group and 0.006% of the total number of biopsies. The most common site for oral melanoma was the palate (60%). Conclusion: The palate was the most common location for both melanocytic nevi and oral melanoma. Thus, all melanocytic lesions in the palate should be viewed with caution and biopsy is recommended to rule out melanoma. Further studies are required to elucidate the entity of oral atypical melanocytic proliferation.     

Light and electron microscopic and autoradiographic studies onN-methyl-N-amylnitrosamine-induced rat esophageal carcinogenesis

The purpose of this study was to investigate the histogenesis of experimental tumors in the rat esophagus. Thirty rats received 0.0015% N-methyl-N-amylnitrosamine (MNAN) in the drinking water for 12 weeks. Another 30 rats received tap water. All rats then received tap water until sacrifice. Rats from each group were sacrificed immediately after MNAN administration, four weeks after, and eight weeks after. One hour before sacrifice, [³H]TdR was injected by tail vein to label proliferating cells. The entire esophagus and stomach were removed and processed for light and electron microscopy and autoradiography. The overall frequency of esophageal tumors after MNAN was 83% and did not differ significantly among the three experimental groups. Tumors were primarily papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas and occurred with equal frequency in the upper, middle, and lower thirds of the esophagus. No tumors were found in the squamous-lined forestomach. Electron microscopy revealed abundant tonofilaments, free ribosomes, and mitochondria accompanied by vacuoles. By autoradiography, esophageal epithelial proliferation was markedly stimulated in nontumorous mucosa from all three experimental groups. We conclude that MNAN ingestion for 12 weeks reliably produces papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas throughout the rat esophagus, but not in the squamouslined forestomach, and that MNAN stimulated marked epithelial proliferation which is accompanied by thickening of the epithelium in nontumorus esophageal mucosa.     

松花粉对人肺成纤维细胞增殖活性影响的实验研究

目的 :研究松花粉对人肺成纤维细胞增殖的影响 ,探讨中药松花粉可能的作用机理。方法 :松花粉作用于人肺成纤维细胞不同时间后观察细胞生长速度 ,应用台盼蓝对细胞进行染色 ,测定细胞死亡率。松花粉浓度分别为 10 0、2 0 0、40 0、80 0mg·L-1,以未经松花粉处理的细胞为对照。结果 :松花粉作用于人肺成纤维细胞能够明显促进细胞群体倍增水平 ,降低死亡细胞数目 ,且呈剂量依赖关系。结论 :松花粉可通过促进细胞生长而影响细胞增殖。     

利多卡因对N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸抑制大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞增殖的影响

目的 观察利多卡因对 N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)抑制大鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞瘤细胞(PC12细胞)增殖的影响。方法 将体外培养的 PC12细胞分为6组，分别采用正常不含药液的培养基(C组)；含400μmol·L(-1)NMDA 的培养基(N组)；NMDA 分别混合10μmol·L~(-1)(L_1组)、10~2μmol·L~(-1)(L_2组)、10~3μmol·L~(-1)(L_3组)以及10~4μmol·L~(-1)(L_4组)利多卡因的培养基培养5d，应用流式细胞仪测定细胞 DNA 相对含量，解析细胞周期，计算 S 期细胞荧光强度占受测细胞总荧光强度的百分数为 S期分数(SPF)和 S 期与 G_2期细胞荧光强度之和与 M 期细胞荧光强度的比值[(S G_2)/M]。结果 与C 组比较，N、L_1组 SPF 和(S G_2)/M 均降低(P<0.05)，L_4组 SPF 降低(P<0.05)，而 L_2及 L_3组 SPF和(S G_2)/M 差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。与 N 组比较，L_2、L_3及 L_4组 SPF 和(S G_2)/M 升高(P<0.05)，L_1组 SPF 升高(P<0.05)，而(S G_2)/M 差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论 NMDA 可以通过抑制 PC12细胞 DNA 合成而影响细胞的增殖活性，利多卡因能拮抗 NMDA 对 PC12细胞增殖的抑制作用。     

Biological characterization of glutaraldehyde-modified Parietaria judaica pollen extracts

BACKGROUND: Allergoids are widely used in specific immunotherapy (SIT) for the treatment of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, but all techniques for standardization of conventional allergic extracts may not be appropriate for standardization of a glutaraldehyde (GA)-modified extract because of the unique characteristics of these extracts. OBJECTIVE: To assess an accurate methodology for standardization of chemically modified extracts. METHODS: GA-modified extracts from Parietaria judaica pollen were purified by diafiltration. Biochemical properties were investigated by determination of amino groups, chromatography, and SDS-PAGE. The IgE-binding activity was determined by skin prick test, enzyme allergosorbent test inhibition, basophil activation, and histamine release tests. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from P. judaica pollen-allergic subjects were stimulated with either native or allergoid extracts, and proliferation was measured. RESULTS: Biochemical data indicated a high degree of allergen polymerization resulting in extract components higher than 100 kDa. IgE-binding activity, both in vivo and in vitro, was reduced by more than 99.8%. Both allergen and allergoid induced PBMC proliferation and synthesis of blocking IgG antibodies at similar rates. Moreover, no evidence of introduction of new determinants by chemical modification was found. CONCLUSIONS: The preparation of GA-modified extracts by diafiltration is faster and more reliable than previous chromatographic methods. These modified extracts have drastically reduced their allergenicity while maintaining their immunogenicity, and therefore they can be used in safer and shortened schedules of SIT.     

甲基强的松龙治疗实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎的作用机制

目的:研究细胞因子、T细胞凋亡和淋巴细胞增殖在实验性变态反应性脑脊髓炎(EAE)形成中的作用及甲基强的松龙(MP)治疗EAE的作用机制。方法:采用人脑纯化的髓鞘碱性蛋白(MBP)与完全福氏佐剂免疫Lewis大鼠,建立EAE动物模型。用双抗体夹心ELISA法检测各组大鼠血清中IL-10、TNF-α、IFN-γ的含量:流式细胞仪检测外周血T细胞凋亡;3H-TdR释放法检测外周血淋巴细胞转化率。结果:与对照组比较,EAE组的外周血IFN-γ、TNF-α水平明显增高,IL-10水平明显降低,MP治疗后IFN-γ和TNF-α水平下降,IL-10浓度上调。MP还诱导外周血T细胞凋亡和抑制MBP致敏淋巴细胞增殖并呈剂量依赖性。结论:应用人MBP成功建立EAE大鼠模型,MP可能通过调节Th细胞因子格局、促进Th2细胞因子分泌、抑制MBP致敏淋巴细胞增殖及外周血T细胞凋亡而发挥治疗多发性硬化的作用。     

ULTRASTRUCTURAL INVESTIGATION ON THE ARTICULAR CARTILAGE FROM RABBIT KNEE JOINT AFTER IMMOBILIZATION IN CAST

The articular cartilages from the left knee of 30 rabbits immobilized in casts in functional position were studied under transmission electron microscope. The pathological changes which begin at early stage of immobilization included both degeneration and repair of cartilage. The striking morphological features observed were: (1) most chondrocytes in various layers of cartilage underwent progresive degeneration; (2) the concomitant abnormal proliferation of some chondrocytes happened in a brief period. The changes in mechanical stress caused by immobilization affected the nutrition of cartilage and finally led to its reactive structural reformation.