Neural cell adhesion molecule-180 expression as a prognostic criterion in colorectal carcinoma:Feasible or not?

AIM: To evaluate the frequency of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM)-180 expression in fresh tumor tissue samples and to discuss the prognostic value of NCAM-180 in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Twenty-six patients (16 men,10 women) with colorectal cancer were included in the study. Fresh tumor tissue samples and macroscopically healthy proximal margins of each specimen were subjected to flow-cytometric analysis for NCAM-180 expression. RESULTS: Flow-cytometric analysis determined NCAM-180 expression in whole tissue samples of macroscopically healthy colorectal tissues. However,NCAM-180 expression was positive in only one case (3.84%) with well-differentiated Stage Ⅱ?disease who experienced no active disease at 30 mon follow-up. CONCLUSION: As a consequence of the limited number of cases in our series,it might not be possible to make a generalisation,nevertheless the routine use of NCAM-180 expression as a prognostic marker for colorectal carcinoma seems to be unfeasible and not cost-effective in clinical practice due to its very low incidence.

Acupuncture for cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury Does it reduce the inflammatory reaction?

BACKGROUND： Nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （ICAM-1）, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） in brain tissue can participate in inflammatory reactions after cerebral ischemia. Acupuncture treatment for acute cerebral ischemia produces abnormal protein expression. OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of acupuncture on NF-KB, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemiaJreperfUsion injury. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： Randomized, controlled, animal experiments were performed at the Laboratory of Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, China between December 2008 and October 2009. MATERIALS： Rabbit anti-NF-KB polyclonal antibody, rabbit anti-ICAM-1 polyclonal antibody, and rabbit anti-VCAM-1 polyclonal antibody were purchased from Santa Cruz Biotechnology, USA. METHODS： A total of 46 healthy, Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham surgery （n= 10）, model （n = 12）, acupuncture pretreatment （n = 12）, and acupuncture intervention （n = 12） groups. Models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were established by right common carotid artery ligation. In the acupuncture pretreatment group, rats received acupuncture for 3 consecutive days, and then models were established. In the acupuncture intervention group, rats received acupuncture for 3 consecutive days at Waiguan （SJ 5）, Sanyinjiao （SP 6）, and Dazhui （DU 14） acupoints following model establishment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： Somatosensory asymmetry and forelimb use asymmetry were tested, as well as NF-KB, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the frontal and parietal cortex at 4, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. RESULTS： Acupuncture improved neurological function and significantly decreased NF-KB, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the frontal and parietal cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury （P 〈 0.05）. CONCLUSION： Acupuncture can improve neurological function, potentially via inhibition of NF-κB, ICAM,I, and VCAM-1 mRNA and protein expression in the frontal and parietal cortex of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.