Clinico-pathologic significance of neuroendocrine cells in gastric carcer tissue

AIMS To elucidate the biological and clinicopathological signifi- cance of neuroendocrine(NE)cells in gastric carcinoma(GC). METHODS One hundred and eighty-nine cases of various histo- logical types of GC were observed using light microscopy, histochemistry,immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Of them 127 patients were followed up. RESULTS Chromogranin A(CgA)positive GC was demonstrat- ed in 85 cases(45.0%).The typos of NE cells in GC were probed using 9 kinds of hormone antibodies 49 cases(67.2%) contained more than one hormone.NE cells were found more often in poorly differentiated GC than in well differentiated ones(P<0. 01).Expression of some kinds of hormone Was relative to the dif- ferentiation and histological types of GC.BOM,CT(P<0.01) GAST and 5-HT(P<0.05)were more expressed in poorly differ- entiated cases than in well defferentiated ones.Nineteen cases of the matastatic foci in regional lymph nodes were found to have CgA positive cancer cells.The presence of HCG in matastatic lymph nodes was more often observed than that of other hormone (P<0.01).The survival rate of patients with NE positive GC was 38.9% and negative GC 52.7%.Five of 7 patients(71. 4%)with somatostatin positive GC still survived at follow up of 33-66 months,but 4 patients with HCG positive GC died in 12-29 months. CONCLUSIONS The NE cells occur more frequently in poorly differentiated GC.Certain hormones appear to be related to the metastasis and prognosis.

Exploring new frontiers in molecular imaging:Emergence of ^(68)Ga PET/CT

Since US Food and Drug Administration approval of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose as a positron tracer,and the development of hybrid positron emission tomography/ computed tomography machines,there has been a great increase in clinical application and progress in the field of nuclear molecular imaging.However,not under- estimating the value of 18F,there are known limitations in the use of this cyclotron-produced positron tracer.We hence turn our focus to an emerging positron tracer, 68 Ga,and examine the advantages,current clinical uses and potential future applications of this radioisotope.

Interaction between Neuroendocrinology and Immunology: Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis in Immunoendocrinology

The study of interactions between neuroendocrinology and immunology, or immunoendocrinology, is a recent field with the majority of its development in the last 30 years that involves communication between the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Homeostasis, development, aging, metabolism, infection, and inflammation are all influenced by the cross talk between these systems via hormones, cytokines, and neurotransmitters. The nervous system affects the immune system through either the hypothalamus-pituitary axes (adrenal, gonadal, thyroid, growth-hormone) neuropeptide and hormone signals or autonomic nervous system signals of norepinephrine and acetylcholine. On the other hand, the immune system passes feedback through cytokine type and concentration in the blood. Imbalance of any of these systems leads to increased risk in severity of metabolic, psychiatric, inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. These two systems are complex standalone and even more so in their interaction. Thus, the relationship between the immune system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis is necessary to be reviewed.

Effect of tribulus terrestris saponins on behavior and neuroendocrine in chronic mild stress depression rats

OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of tribulus terres- tris saponins （TTS） on behavior and neuroendo- crine of chronic mild stress （CMS） depression rats. METHODS：ThirtymaleSprague-Dawleyratswereran- domly allocated to six groups： vehicle group, CMS group, CMS ＋ fluoxetine group and CMS ＋ TTS of low-dosage （0.375 g/kg）, medium-dosage （0.75 g/kg） and high-dosage （2.25 g/kg） groups. All rats except the vehicle group singly housed and exposed an unpredicted sequence of mild stressors. The behav- ior of rats was detected by open-field test （OFT） and sucrose preference test （SPT）. The concentra- tion of corticotropin-releasing factor （CRF） and ad- renocorticotropic hormone （ACTH） in serum of the rats were detected by radioimmunoassay. The con- centration of cortisol （CORT） in serum was detected by enzyme immunoassay.RESULTS： CMS procedure not only significantly de- creased the scores of crossing, rears and grooming in OFI： and the sucrose preference in SPT （all P〈 0.01）, but also markedly increased serum CRH and CORT levels （both P〈0.05）. Treatment with TTS （0.75 and 2.25 g/kg） could significantly prevent all of these abnormalities induced by CMS （P〈0.05, P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： CMS can affect rat behavior and neuroendocrine and cause depression. TTS has the antagonism on CMS and produce antidepressive ef- fects.