BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent fatal cancers in the world. Despite advances in early diagnosis and improvements in surgical techniques, the survival of patients with HCC even after resection is poor because of the high incidence of recurrences. Therefore, the identification of prognostic factors may be helpful in the development of new treatment protocols. AIMS: To investigate HER-2/neu status in HCC by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), and to explore the possibility of using trastuzumab in the treatment of HCC. METH ODS: Eight hundred and sixty eight surgical samples from patients with primary HCC were examined for their HER-2/neu status. IHC for HER-2/neu was performed with the HercepTest kit; FISH analysis was performed with the PathVysion HER-2 DNA probe kit. The correlations between HER-2/neu overexpression and clinicopathological characteristics were analysed statistically. RESULTS: HER-2/neu overexpression was detected in 21 (2.42%) of the 868 primary HCCs. Only one specimen showed HER-2/neu gene amplification by FISH. No significant associations were found between HER-2/neu overexpression and the clinicopathological parameters. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low frequency of HER-2/neu overexpression/amplification in HCC. There appears to be no role for HER-2/neu as a prognostic marker and no benefit of anti-HER-2/neu trastuzumab treatment in patients with HCC. 相似文献
Background: The current study was designed to investigate the influence of pretreatment with the oxygen radical scavengers polyethylene glycol superoxide dismutase and catalase (SODCAT) on altered opioid-induced pial artery dilation after fluid percussion brain injury (FPI) in the newborn pig. It has been observed previously that brain injury produces pial artery vasoconstriction in the piglet associated with elevated cerebrospinal fluid opioid levels. Furthermore, opioid-induced vasodilation and cyclic guanosine monophosphate production are attenuated following brain injury. Finally, oxygen free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of brain injury.
Methods: Anesthetized piglets equipped with a closed cranial window were connected to a percussion device consisting of a saline-filled cylindrical reservoir with a metal pendulum. Fluid percussion brain injury of moderate severity (1.9-2.3 atm) was produced by allowing the pendulum to strike a piston on the cylinder. Superoxide dismutase-inhibitable nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was determined as an index of superoxide generation.
Results: Superoxide dismutase-inhibitable nitroblue tetrazolium was increased markedly after FPI and these increases were blunted by SODCAT (1,000 U/kg and 10,000 U/kg, respectively) treatment 30 min before FPI (1 +/-1 vs. 14+/-2 vs. 1+/-1 pmol/mm2 for control, FPI, and FPI pretreated with SODCAT, respectively). Methionine enkephalin, an endogenous micro opioid agonist, produced vasodilation that was attenuated by FPI and partially restored by SODCAT pretreatment (17 +/-1, 8+/-1, and 14+/-1% for methionine enkephalin 10 sup -6 M during control conditions, after FPI and after FPI pretreated with SODCAT, respectively). Methionine enkephalin-induced dilation was associated with increased cerebrospinal fluid cyclic guanosine monophosphate and these biochemical changes were likewise blunted by FPI and partially restored by SODCAT (342+/-12 and 640 +/-13 vs. 267+/-6 and 321+/-17 vs. 301 +/-9 and 504+/-43 fmol/ml for resting conditions and 10 sup -6 M methionine enkephalin during control, after FPI, and after FPI pretreated with SODCAT, respectively). Leucine enkephalin, an endogenous delta agonist, induced pial dilation and associated changes in cerebrospinal fluid cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which were similarly altered by FPI and partially restored by SODCAT. Dynorphin, an endogenous kappa agonist, which has been shown to revert from a dilator to a constrictor after FPI, was restored to a vasodilator by SODCAT (18 +/-1, -11+/-4, and 17+/-5% for dynorphin 10 sup -6 M during control conditions, after FPI, and after FPI pretreated with SODCAT, respectively). Dynorphin-induced vasodilation was associated with a large increase in cerebrospinal fluid cyclic guanosine monophosphate, which was blunted by FPI and partially restored by SODCAT. 相似文献
The study investigates the correlation between oocyte maturity and
fertilization and a variety of hormonal parameters in follicular fluid and
ovarian granulosa cells. A methodology for purification of granulosa cells
from contaminating blood cells is also established. A total of 63
follicular aspirates were collected at oocyte retrieval from 30 women
superovulated using the long luteinizing hormone- releasing hormone (LHRH
analogue)/human menopausal gonadotrophin regimen. Oestradiol, progesterone,
testosterone and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) were quantified in
follicular fluid and granulosa cells were immunostained for human chorionic
gonadotrophin. Immunopurification of granulosa cells from contaminating
blood cells was performed. HCG in follicular fluid was significantly high
in follicles yielding immature (grade 3) oocytes (P=0.002); there was no
correlation with fertilization. Aspirates from follicles containing mature
(grade 1) oocytes and oocytes that subsequently fertilized had
significantly more granulosa cells immunobound to HCG (P < 0.001,
P=0.02). Moreover, the immunomagnetic purification technique provided
>98% pure population of granulosa cells. The data demonstrate that HCG
in follicular fluid and on granulosa cells may help to predict oocyte
maturity and fertilization. Furthermore, immunomagnetic beads provide a
reliable procedure for the purification of ovarian granulosa cells.
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BACKGROUND: The efficacy of bed covers that are impermeable to house dust mites has been disputed. AIM: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the combination of 'house dust mite impermeable' covers and a self-management plan, based on peak flow values and symptoms, leads to reduced use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) than self-management alone. DESIGN OF STUDY: Prospective, randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care in a south-eastern region of the Netherlands. METHOD: Asthma patients aged between 16 and 60 years with a house dust mite allergy requiring ICS were randomised to intervention and placebo groups. They were trained to use a self-management plan based on peak flow and symptoms. After a 3-month training period, the intervention commenced using house dust mite impermeable and placebo bed covers. The follow-up period was 2 years. Primary outcome was the use of ICS; secondary outcomes were peak expiratory flow parameters, asthma control, and symptoms. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty-six patients started the intervention with house dust mite impermeable or placebo bed covers. After 1 and 2 years, significant differences in allergen exposure were found between the intervention and control groups (P<0.001). No significant difference between the intervention and control groups was found in the dose of ICS (P = 0.08), morning peak flow (P = 0.52), peak flow variability (P = 0.36), dyspnoea (P = 0.46), wheezing (P = 0.77), or coughing (P = 0.41). There was no difference in asthma control between the intervention and control groups. CONCLUSION: House dust mite impermeable bed covers combined with self-management do not lead to reduced use of ICS compared with self-management alone. 相似文献
Controlling the sex of offspring by the separation of X and Y
chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using flow cytometry has been reported as a
clinical technique aiding prevention of X-linked diseases. Although this
technique has resulted in several hundred normal births in animals and at
least one human birth, there is still concern over its genetic safety due
to the involvement of two potentially mutagenic agents: UV light and the
fluorochrome dye, Hoechst 33342 (H33342). Human spermatozoa, particularly
those considered abnormal, may be more likely to suffer DNA damage
following exposure to mutagenic agents, compared with other mammalian
species. The stability of normal fresh and decondensed human spermatozoa
were examined after exposure to a range of levels of UV and H33342
staining, using an assay that detects endogenous nicks in the DNA of
spermatozoa. The stability of abnormal and normal, fresh and frozen-thawed
human spermatozoa was examined following UV laser, H33342 staining and flow
cytometry treatments utilizing the same assay. There was an increase in the
presence of endogenous nicks when spermatozoa were decondensed compared
with fresh spermatozoa. There was no increase in the incidence of nicks in
any group of spermatozoa after UV and fluorochrome exposure compared with
controls without exposure.
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Bolus dynamic and delayed computed tomographic (CT) scans of the liver were evaluated in 43 patients with 54 hepatic hemangiomas and 111 patients with primary or secondary malignant hepatic neoplasms. Twelve patterns of contrast enhancement were recognized during the bolus dynamic phase and delayed scanning. A "typical" CT pattern for hemangiomas (present in 29 of 54 hemangiomas [53.7%]) was established: (a) diminished attenuation prior to intravenous contrast medium administration (excluding lesions arising in a liver with diffuse fatty infiltration), (b) peripheral contrast enhancement during the bolus dynamic phase, and (c) complete isodense fill-in on delayed scan images. Using these criteria, we distinguished hemangiomas from malignant neoplasms in most patients. Only one of 63 (1.6%) malignant neoplasms manifested these typical CT criteria of hemangioma. There is an 86% chance that a lesion with the typical CT appearance of hemangioma is actually a hemangioma, even when found in a patient with a known nonhepatic primary neoplasm. 相似文献