Vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density for detection and prognostic evaluation of invasive breast cancer

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） and CD105-microvessel density （MVD）in invasive breast carcinomas. We also aimed to analyze the relationship between VEGF and MVD expression with other standard prognostic parameters associated with invasive breast cancer, such as size, grade, stage of the cancer, metastases, and tumor recurrence. Methods immunohistochemistry via the Ultra SensitiveTM S-P method was used to detect VEGF and MVD expression in 128 cases of invasive breast carcinoma. Specimens were evaluated for CD105 expression. Positively stained microvessels were counted in dense vascular loci under 400x magnification, MVD in the peripheral area adjacent to the lesion and in the central, area within the lesion in invasive breast carcinomas and benign leisions groups were also assessed. Fifty cases of benign breast disease tissue were selected as the control group. Results Results showed that 64.1% of invasive breast cancer samples were VEGF-positive, higher than in benign breast disease tissue （22.0%, P 〈 0.05）. There was a positive correlation between VEGF overexpression and histological grade, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis of invasive breast cancer. VEGF expression was not related to age or size of the tumor （P 〉 0.05）. MVD of the peripheral area adjacent to the lesion was significantly higher than those central area within the lesion in both invasive breast cancer and benignbreast disease groups （P 〈 0.01 for each group）. There were significant differences in the mean CD105-MVD, between invasive breast tumors with a histological grade of Ⅰ or Ⅱ and grade Ⅲ; between tumors with lymph node or distant metastasis; and between patients with or without recurrence （P 〈 0.05）. However, there was no difference in the mean MVD between the two age groups （≤ 50 years vs. 〉 50 years） or the two tumor diameter groups （〈 2 cm vs. 〉 2 cm）, P 〉 0.05. Conclusion Overexpression of VEGF and MVD may be important biological.markers for invasion and lymph node and distant metastases of invasive breast cancer. Combined detection of the two tumor markers could provide better prognostic monitoring for disease recurrence and metastasis, as well as aid with clinical staging of breast tumors. Prediction of the risk for metastasis and recurrence, as well as recurrence patterns based on VEGF and MVD post-surgery, could aid design of better follow-up regimens and appropriate treatment strategies for breast cancer patients.

FIRST AMMONITE AND INOCERAMID DATA FROM THE UPPER CRETACEOUS OF THE TINGRI SECTION IN SE-TIBET:BIOSTRATIGRAPHICAL AND PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

A section in the Zhepure Mountains near Old Tingri in SE-Tibet,ranging from the Upper Albian to Paleogene,was described in detail by Willems et al.(1996).These authors worked on the litho-and microfacies and set up the biostratigraphical framework by planktonic foraminifera.Willems et al.(1996)established their section as a standard for southern Tibet and compared it to the Gamba area.During the 2004 Tibet-expedition of Chengdu University of Technology in China,in co-operation with Bremen and Kiel universities in Germany,the locality was revisited for the purpose of collecting invertebrate fossils.This field-work included only the Upper Cretaceous part of the Tingri section and its invertebrate faunal content.Until today almost no ammonite and inoceramid data existed for this section.This is true for most Cretaceous sections in Tibet,although the Upper Cretaceous succession was interpreted as shelf environment.which in other parts of the world contains rich faunas of these macrofossil groups.The newly discovered continuous record of rare ammonites and inoceramids is probably limited since the preservation in the wacke-and packstones is poor.In addition,sampling conditions were unfavorable and the environmental conditions disadvantageous for most groups of invertebrates,as possibly indicated by larger amounts of small bivalve debris(filaments)in the upper part of the Gamba Group.Although the collected fauna is sparse and poorly preserved,the following biostratigraphical data can be added to the hitherto described microfauna:Calycoceras?from the Upper Gamba Group is Late Cenomanian in age and is accompanied by indeterminable juvenile desmoceratids.Superjacent follows a record of the ammonite Forresteria sp.,indicating that this level in the upper part of the Gamba Group belongs to the Lower Coniacian.This supports the finding of Inoceramus(Cremnoceramus)waltersdorfensis?hannovrensis?from the same interval.Anagaudryceras?is an individual ammonite finding from the Zhepure Shanbei or Zhepure Shanpo Formation,corresponding to the Santonian-Maastrichtian part of the succession.

Abscess in Primary Tuberculosis of Breast: Case Report

Purpose: To highlight the diagnostic challenges of breast tuberculosis. Mammary tuberculosis is a rare disease. Its clinical and radiological characteristics are similar to other breast diseases in young women, such as granulomatous mastitis and breast carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We report a case of primary tuberculosis of a 34 years old woman who presented bilateral abscess with refractory secretion of blood and pus drainage to previous treatment with conventional antibiotic therapy of granulomatous mastitis. Results: A tuberculous mammary was observed and confirmed in the case. The diagnosis was based on imaging tests and complementary tests. Anti-tuberculosis treatment was prescribed during 6 months, and the evolution was favorable for one patient. Conclusion: Tuberculosis continued to present diagnostic difficulties, particularly in its breast tuberculosis form.

Inheritance and Innovation in the Exhibition's Narrative Curator's note on ‘Ink Splendor and Cultural Context:Exhibition of Bada Shanren,Shi Tao and Chinese Xieyi Art since the 20th Century'

The dual themes of inheritance and innovation are the red threads throughout the exhibition "Ink Splendor and Cultural Context:Exhibition of Bada Shanren,Shi Tao and Chinese Xieyi Art since the 20th Century",which is curated around a clear storyline一through the re-organization of works,the historical evolution of Xieyi art and the synchronicity in exhibition space are unifed,making the whole exhibition a double variation of inheritance and innovation.

法国国家自然史博物馆的大型动物标本剥制术

人类很早以前就知道如何处理动物皮革，但是动物标本剥制术却是一门较新的艺术。它源于18世纪博物收集者的科学需要，其技术的发展得益于自然科学的进步以及新材料的发展。本文作者阐述了制作现代大型动物标本的过程和方法。

The Catastrophe of Civilization:The Destruction of the Grandeur of the Old Summer Palace

The first part of this book follows the thread of ten major events involving the dispersal of cultural relics,unveiling the complex truths behind the loss of national treasures.The latter part meticulously selects 108 precious relics overseas,ranging from the Neolithic era to the Qing Dynasty,covering Dunhuang relics,calligraphy,ceramics,bronzes,jades,lacquerware,sculptures,and oracle bone scriptures,etc.It interprets the historical background,craftsmanship,color details,aesthetic design,and symbolic meanings,encompassing exquisite collections from dozens of institutions abroad,offering a glimpse into the rare treasures of Chinese heritage.

Towards a scientific rationale for traditional properties of Chinese medicinal plants: “natures” and “flavors”

Objective: According to theory of Chinese medicine property, the ecological environment shapes properties(natures and flavors) of Chinese materia medica(CMM) and there are close relationships between certain natures and flavors. However, to date these observations have not been validated scientifically in the context of the whole flora of a region. The present study aims to address this gap.Methods: We collected geographical distributions of 3637 vascular plant species native to the Xinjiang region of northwest China, of which around 812 are medicinal plants. The CMM property characters of these medicinal plants were also collected. All medicinal plants were then analyzed in the occurrence of their natures(cold, cool, neutral, warm, and hot) and flavors(sweet, bitter, sour, salty, and pungent). Possible correlations between these properties and environmental factors, notably climate, as well as correlations with plant species richness of the wider native flora of Xinjiang were then investigated using permutation test and regression.Results: Cold species(38.5%) were more numerous than warm(21.0%) and neutral(22.3%), while bitter species(43.3%) were more numerous than pungent(25.6%), sweet(22.4%) and sour(6.7%) ones. Species with bitter flavor were most commonly also cold(48.6%) in nature, sour flavor usually coincided with cold(44.2%) or cool nature(26.0%), whereas pungent or sweet species tended to be warm(34.4%, 28.4%) or neutral(27.8%, 28.4%). The percentages of species of cold/cool nature, bitter flavor were higher in mountainous regions, and the percentages of warm/neutral and pungent/sweet/sour were higher in basins. The percentages of species of cold/cool, bitter were positively correlated with actual evapotranspiration(AET),and also plant species richness but had a bell-shaped relationship with potential evapotranspiration(PET),whereas the inverse situation was shown for warm/neutral and pungent/sweet/sour species.Conclusion: Analysis of the data in Xinjiang region of China supports the qualitative observations concerning natures and flavors in traditional theory of Chinese medicine property. Specifically,(i) certain natures and flavors co-occur more frequently than if randomly distributed;(ii) correlations between proportions of natures and flavors and climatic variables suggest a role for the environment in shaping the properties of CMM.