Comparative analysis of hepatitis C virus core protein in the plasma and serum samples from HCV-infected blood donors and patients with hepatitis C

The aim of the study was to develop a sensitive and specific method for revealing the direct marker of hepatitis C virus (HCV)--core protein in the serum and to test it in the laboratory setting. Experiments were made on plasma and serum samples from asymptomatic HCV-seropositive blood donors (n=65), patients with acute (AHC) and chronic (CHC) hepatitis C (n=295), and HCV-seronegative blood donors (n=20). The processing protocol for serum included their concentration by means of polyethylene glycol and subsequent treatments of pellets to detect core protein in free virions, nonenveloped nucleocapsids, and immune complexes. This allowed an assay to be developed for the detection of core protein, by using a sandwich ELISA. Inclusion of a combination of three original monoclonal antibodies into the sandwich could reveal in the samples core proteins of at least 3 genotypes of HCV (1, 2, and 3) with a sensitivity of 20 pg/ml in the majority of HCV-infected subjects. The results of determination of core protein and HCV RNA correlated with a high degree of sensitivity. To detect HCV in the blood of patients with AHC, it was shown to be sufficient to find freely circulating virions whereas an analysis of immune complexes should be included in cases of CHC to achieve more sensitivity. The findings are a basis for developing a test system for the diagnosis of hepatitis C, including its early stages before seroconversion and for determining a viral load during interferon therapy. Introduction of the method into practice increases the reliability of the diagnosis of hepatitis C and virus-free safety of blood transfusions.     

肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌中的表达及意义

目的研究肿瘤相关基因Cap43在胰腺癌组织中的表达情况,探讨其对胰腺癌的诊断价值。方法收集1999年4月～2002年8月长海医院外科手术切除胰腺癌标本和癌旁正常组织33例,诊断均由病理证实。男性22例,女性11例,年龄30～73岁,平均58．1岁。所有组织标本按肿瘤、癌旁(正常)配对。采用RT-PCR和Northern杂交方法研究Cap43 mRNA表达情况。结果 RT-PCR结果显示,Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,其在肿瘤组织和癌旁正常组织的扫描值分别为4 033±1 986和2 244±1 145,有显著差异(P<0．001)。Northern杂交亦显示Cap43在肿瘤组织中表达显著上调,相同病例的RT-PCR结果与Northern杂交的结果有较好的一致性,经回归分析,没有显著性差异(P>0．1)。结论 Cap43在胰腺癌组织中呈显著高表达,其有可能成为胰腺癌早期诊断的重要标志物。     

Complex radionuclide diagnosis of phlebothromboses in patients with cancer of the corpus uteri

The data on a complex radionuclide examination of veins of lower extremities carried out in the course of diagnosis of phlebothrombosis in cases of cancer of cervix uteri are presented. Radionuclide measurements with 125I-fibrinogen were carried out for diagnosis of venous thrombosis in lower extremities in 38 surgical patients and the signs of thrombosis were identified in 8 cases (21.1%). Phleboscintigraphy using 99mTc-labeled MAA was performed in 18 patients in order to preoperatively evaluate the status of deep veins of the lower extremities. In cases of symptoms of venous disease, phleboscintigrams showed such pathological features as construction or dilation of veins, foci of accumulated 99mTc-labeled MAA and collateral blood flow.     

Laparoscopic Right Hemicolectomy for Ileocolic Intussusception Secondary to Caecal Neoplasm

Intussusception in adults is a rare cause of abdominal pain. Unlike its paediatric counterpart, intussusception in adults is associated with obvious pathology. We describe a case of ileocolic intussusception extending to the splenic flexure. We were able to reduce the intussusception partially and pedicle was stapled carefully. The specimen was delivered through a small incision and right hemicolectomy was performed adhering to oncological principles. We recommend laparoscopic-assisted surgery is considered for adult intussusceptions.     

Long-term experience with implanted intrathecal drug administration systems for failed back syndrome and chronic mechanical low back pain

Background  

Continuous intrathecal drug delivery has been shown in open studies to improve pain and quality of life in those with intractable back pain who have had spinal surgery. There is limited data on long term effects and and even less for patients with mechanical back pain without prior spinal surgery.     

The Cytoplasmic Expression of MUC1 in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma of Different Histological Variants and its Correlation with Cyclin D1 Overexpression

This study addressed the immunohistochemical expression of MUC1 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of different histotypes, sizes, and morphological features of aggressiveness, and its correlation with the overexpression of cyclin D1, a target molecule of the Wnt pathway. MUC1 expression was examined in a total of 209 PTCs. Cytoplasmic MUC1 expression was elevated in the tall, columnar cell and oncocytic variants (100%), Warthin-like (78%), and conventional PTCs (61%), and in papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) with the conventional growth pattern (52%). On the contrary, it was low in the follicular variant (27%) of PTC and PMCs with follicular architecture (13%). Cytoplasmic MUC1 accumulation did not associate with any clinicopathological features except peritumoral lymphoid infiltration in PTCs and in PMCs with the conventional growth pattern. MUC1 staining correlated with cyclin D1 overexpression in conventional PTCs and PMCs and PMCs with follicular architecture. The results demonstrate that MUC1 expression varies broadly in different histological variants of PTC, being the lowest in tumors with follicular structure. In general, it does not prove to be a prognosticator of PTC aggressiveness. A high correlation between MUC1 and cyclin D1 implies MUC1 involvement in the Wnt cascade functioning in a large subset of human PTCs and PMCs.     

PAQR3: a novel tumor suppressor gene

PAQR3, also known as RKTG (Raf kinase trapping to Golgi), is a member of the progestin and adipoQ receptor (PAQR) family. The role of PAQR3 as a tumor suppressor has recently been established in different types of human cancer in which PAQR3 exerts its biological function through negative regulation of the oncogenic Raf/MEK/ERK signaling. Multiple studies have found that PAQR3 downregulation frequently occurs in human cancers and is very often associated with tumor progression and shortened patients’ survival. Moreover, restoring the expression of PAQR3 could induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation and invasiveness of cancer cells. Downregulation of PAQR3 by oncogenic microRNAs has also been reported. In this review, we summarized current knowledge concerning the role of PAQR3 in tumor development. To our knowledge, this is the first review on the role of this novel tumor suppressor.