AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the computed tomography （CT）/magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） imaging features of epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the liver （Epi-HAML）, with pathology as a reference. METHODS： Th...AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the computed tomography （CT）/magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） imaging features of epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the liver （Epi-HAML）, with pathology as a reference. METHODS： The CT/MRI findings （number, diameter, lobar location, and appearance of lesions） in a series of 10 patients with 12 pathologically proven epithelioid angiomyolipomas of the liver were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging features, including attenuation/ signal intensity characteristics, presence of fat, hypervascular, outer rim, and vessels within lesion, were evaluated and compared with that of non-Epi- HAML in 11 patients （13 lesions）. The Fisher exact test was used to compare difference in probability of imaging features between the two types. RESULTS： For 21 patients, CT images of 15 patients and MR images of six patients were available. No patient underwent two examinations. For the 15 patients with a CT scan, all HAML lesions in the two groups （10 Epi-HAML and seven non-Epi-HAML） manifested as hypoattenuation. For the six patients with MRI, all lesions （two Epi-HAML and six non-Epi- HAML） were hypointense on TlWI （fat suppression） and hyperintense on T2WI. There were 10 non-Epi-HAML, but only two Epi-HAML lesions showed the presence of fat, which significantly different between the two types （P = 0.005）. On the dynamic contrast enhancement （DCE） imaging, eight Epi-HAML, and 13 non-Epi lesions manifested as hypervascular. Punctate or curved vessels were displayed in 10 Epi-HAML as well as in nine non- Epi lesions and outer rim enhancement could be found with eight Epi-HAML as well as six non-Epi lesions. CONCLUSION： Little or no presence of adipose tissue was found to be an imaging feature of Epi- HAML, compared with the non-Epi type. In addition, hypervascularity with opacification of central punctiform or filiform vessels on DCE would be a characteristic enhancement pattern for Epi-HAML.展开更多
Since the discovery of Carnpylobacter-like organisms （Helicobacter pylori） more than two decades ago the possibility of a relationship with gastric cancer has been postulated, tested and supposedly proven. There hav...Since the discovery of Carnpylobacter-like organisms （Helicobacter pylori） more than two decades ago the possibility of a relationship with gastric cancer has been postulated, tested and supposedly proven. There have been numerous human studies of various designs from many countries around the world. Several meta-analyses have been published and more recently a small number of experimental animal studies were reported looking at the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer. Over the years, the human epidemiological studies have produced conflicting results; the metaanalyses have as one would expect produced similar pooled estimates; while the early experimental animal studies require replication. The exact mechanisms by which H pylori might cause gastric cancer are still under investigation and remain to be elucidated.展开更多
Protein ubiquitination by E3 ubiquitin ligases plays an important role in cancer development. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that a RING-finger-containing protein RNF13 is an ER/Golgi membrane-associa...Protein ubiquitination by E3 ubiquitin ligases plays an important role in cancer development. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that a RING-finger-containing protein RNF13 is an ER/Golgi membrane-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase and its RING finger domain is required for the ubiquitin ligase activity. Immunohistochemical analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma （PDAC） and paracancerous normal tissues from 72 patients documented RNF13 over-expression in 30 tumor samples （41.7%, 30/72）, and its expression was significantly associated with histological grading （P= 0.024）. In addition, RNF13 was detected in precancerous lesions： tubular complexes in chronic pancreatitis （CP） and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia （PanIN） （79.3%, 23/29 and 62.8%, 22/35, respectively）. Moreover, RNF13 staining was significantly correlated with Tenascin-C expression （P = 0.004） in PDAC samples, further supporting the role of RNF13 in cancer progression. Over-expression of wild type but not RING domain-mutant RNF13 in pancreatic MiaPaca-2 cancer cells increased invasive potential and gelatinolytic activity by matrix metalloproteinase-9. Taken together, these findings reveal that RNF13 is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis; ubiqui-tin-mediated modification of proteins by RNF13 may participate in pancreatic cancer development.展开更多
AIM： To search for and validate differentially expressed proteins in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.METHODS： We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to search for differentially expre...AIM： To search for and validate differentially expressed proteins in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.METHODS： We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to search for differentially expressed proteins in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. A set of proteins was validated with immunoblotting.RESULTS： We identified 30 different proteins involved in various biological processes： metabolism, development, death, response to stress, cell cycle, cell communication, transport, and cell motility. Eight proteinswere chosen for further validation by immunoblotting. Our results show that gastrokine-1, 39S ribosomal protein L12 （mitochondrial precursor）, plasma cell-induced resident endoplasmic reticulum protein, and glutathione S-transferase mu 3 were significantly underexpressed in gastric adenocarcinoma relative to adjacent non-tumor tissue samples. On the other hand, sep- tin-2, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 N, and transaldolase were significantly overexpressed. Translationally controlled tumor protein was shown to be differentially expressed only in patients with cancer of the gastric cardia/esophageal border.CONCLUSION： This work presents a set of possible diagnostic biomarkers, validated for the first time. It might contribute to the efforts of understanding gastric cancer carcinogenesis,展开更多
We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to expl...We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to explore the correlation between plasma cortisol and FGM concentrations. We also injected groups of squirrels with normal saline （CTL; control）, adre- nocorticotropic hormone （ACTH; stimulating adrenal activity）, or dexamethasone （DEX; suppressing adrenal activity）. Potential correlations between stress and behaviour were explored through quantification of fecal pellet production and the intervention necessary to elicit defecation, as well as the behaviour of subjects in the context of handling. Changes in plasma cortisol concen- tration between capture （baseline）, and following handling （stress-induced） were also quantified for free-living squirrels. While glucocorticoid concentrations recovered from feces during our captive-animal study were not well correlated with plasma eortisol concentrations, and uncorrelated with defecation or behaviour, FGM concentrations did reflect the activation of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis. FGM concentrations increased significantly during initial captivity, but declined to baseline level as individuals acclimated to the novel environment. Injection of subjects with ACTH increased FGMs above baseline, confirming activation of the HPA axis. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly with induced stress, indicating that capture and handling activated the glucocorticoid stress response even among previously handled, free-living subjects. Our findings validate a non-invasive tool that will afford new insight into the physiological processes underlying social, reproductive and antipredator behaviour of Richardson＇s ground squirrels [Current Zoology 60 （5）： 591-601, 2014 ].展开更多
文摘AIM： To retrospectively evaluate the computed tomography （CT）/magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） imaging features of epithelioid angiomyolipoma of the liver （Epi-HAML）, with pathology as a reference. METHODS： The CT/MRI findings （number, diameter, lobar location, and appearance of lesions） in a series of 10 patients with 12 pathologically proven epithelioid angiomyolipomas of the liver were retrospectively analyzed. The imaging features, including attenuation/ signal intensity characteristics, presence of fat, hypervascular, outer rim, and vessels within lesion, were evaluated and compared with that of non-Epi- HAML in 11 patients （13 lesions）. The Fisher exact test was used to compare difference in probability of imaging features between the two types. RESULTS： For 21 patients, CT images of 15 patients and MR images of six patients were available. No patient underwent two examinations. For the 15 patients with a CT scan, all HAML lesions in the two groups （10 Epi-HAML and seven non-Epi-HAML） manifested as hypoattenuation. For the six patients with MRI, all lesions （two Epi-HAML and six non-Epi- HAML） were hypointense on TlWI （fat suppression） and hyperintense on T2WI. There were 10 non-Epi-HAML, but only two Epi-HAML lesions showed the presence of fat, which significantly different between the two types （P = 0.005）. On the dynamic contrast enhancement （DCE） imaging, eight Epi-HAML, and 13 non-Epi lesions manifested as hypervascular. Punctate or curved vessels were displayed in 10 Epi-HAML as well as in nine non- Epi lesions and outer rim enhancement could be found with eight Epi-HAML as well as six non-Epi lesions. CONCLUSION： Little or no presence of adipose tissue was found to be an imaging feature of Epi- HAML, compared with the non-Epi type. In addition, hypervascularity with opacification of central punctiform or filiform vessels on DCE would be a characteristic enhancement pattern for Epi-HAML.
文摘Since the discovery of Carnpylobacter-like organisms （Helicobacter pylori） more than two decades ago the possibility of a relationship with gastric cancer has been postulated, tested and supposedly proven. There have been numerous human studies of various designs from many countries around the world. Several meta-analyses have been published and more recently a small number of experimental animal studies were reported looking at the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric cancer. Over the years, the human epidemiological studies have produced conflicting results; the metaanalyses have as one would expect produced similar pooled estimates; while the early experimental animal studies require replication. The exact mechanisms by which H pylori might cause gastric cancer are still under investigation and remain to be elucidated.
文摘Protein ubiquitination by E3 ubiquitin ligases plays an important role in cancer development. In this study, we provide experimental evidence that a RING-finger-containing protein RNF13 is an ER/Golgi membrane-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase and its RING finger domain is required for the ubiquitin ligase activity. Immunohistochemical analysis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma （PDAC） and paracancerous normal tissues from 72 patients documented RNF13 over-expression in 30 tumor samples （41.7%, 30/72）, and its expression was significantly associated with histological grading （P= 0.024）. In addition, RNF13 was detected in precancerous lesions： tubular complexes in chronic pancreatitis （CP） and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia （PanIN） （79.3%, 23/29 and 62.8%, 22/35, respectively）. Moreover, RNF13 staining was significantly correlated with Tenascin-C expression （P = 0.004） in PDAC samples, further supporting the role of RNF13 in cancer progression. Over-expression of wild type but not RING domain-mutant RNF13 in pancreatic MiaPaca-2 cancer cells increased invasive potential and gelatinolytic activity by matrix metalloproteinase-9. Taken together, these findings reveal that RNF13 is a novel E3 ubiquitin ligase involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis; ubiqui-tin-mediated modification of proteins by RNF13 may participate in pancreatic cancer development.
基金Supported by Research grant,No.P1-0104-0386the Junior Researcher Grant,No.1000-07-310086,awarded to Kocevar N,both from the Slovenian Research Agency
文摘AIM： To search for and validate differentially expressed proteins in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.METHODS： We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to search for differentially expressed proteins in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. A set of proteins was validated with immunoblotting.RESULTS： We identified 30 different proteins involved in various biological processes： metabolism, development, death, response to stress, cell cycle, cell communication, transport, and cell motility. Eight proteinswere chosen for further validation by immunoblotting. Our results show that gastrokine-1, 39S ribosomal protein L12 （mitochondrial precursor）, plasma cell-induced resident endoplasmic reticulum protein, and glutathione S-transferase mu 3 were significantly underexpressed in gastric adenocarcinoma relative to adjacent non-tumor tissue samples. On the other hand, sep- tin-2, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 N, and transaldolase were significantly overexpressed. Translationally controlled tumor protein was shown to be differentially expressed only in patients with cancer of the gastric cardia/esophageal border.CONCLUSION： This work presents a set of possible diagnostic biomarkers, validated for the first time. It might contribute to the efforts of understanding gastric cancer carcinogenesis,
文摘We validated a radioimmunoassay-based method quantifying fecal glucocorticoid metabolites （FGMs） from captive male and female Richardson＇s ground squirrels Urocitellus richardsonii. Blood samples were drawn to explore the correlation between plasma cortisol and FGM concentrations. We also injected groups of squirrels with normal saline （CTL; control）, adre- nocorticotropic hormone （ACTH; stimulating adrenal activity）, or dexamethasone （DEX; suppressing adrenal activity）. Potential correlations between stress and behaviour were explored through quantification of fecal pellet production and the intervention necessary to elicit defecation, as well as the behaviour of subjects in the context of handling. Changes in plasma cortisol concen- tration between capture （baseline）, and following handling （stress-induced） were also quantified for free-living squirrels. While glucocorticoid concentrations recovered from feces during our captive-animal study were not well correlated with plasma eortisol concentrations, and uncorrelated with defecation or behaviour, FGM concentrations did reflect the activation of the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal （HPA） axis. FGM concentrations increased significantly during initial captivity, but declined to baseline level as individuals acclimated to the novel environment. Injection of subjects with ACTH increased FGMs above baseline, confirming activation of the HPA axis. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased significantly with induced stress, indicating that capture and handling activated the glucocorticoid stress response even among previously handled, free-living subjects. Our findings validate a non-invasive tool that will afford new insight into the physiological processes underlying social, reproductive and antipredator behaviour of Richardson＇s ground squirrels [Current Zoology 60 （5）： 591-601, 2014 ].
