Primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma of the esophagus: Report of three cases and review of the literatures

We reported three cases of polypoid tumor of the esophagus, among them one case of sarcomatous tumor partly covered with superficial squamous cell carcinoma. The sarcoma was consisted of anaplastic spindle and pleomorphic tumor cells, which was similar to malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) of the soft tissue. Diagnosis of the surgery resected speci-men was confirmed by histological, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic methods. Both diagnostic and differential diagnostic problems of primary MFH of the esophagus and world medical literatures were discussed.

Qualitative and Quantitative Studies of Polygene Proteins Expression in Esophageal Precancerous Lesions and Esophageal Carcinoma

Objective： To examine the expressions of MDM2, P53 and P27 proteins in chronic esophagitis, para-cancer mucosa and esophageal carcinoma. Methods： Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expressions of MDM2, P53 and P27 proteins in forty-seven patients suffering from chronic esophagitis and eighty-five cases of esophageal carcinoma and corresponding para-cancer mucosa. Flow cytometry（（FCM） was applied to detect the quantities of these proteins expressed in fresh tissues of 48 cases of esophageal cancer and their para-cancer tissues and 24 cases of relative normal mucosa at the surface of cutting edge. Results： Immunohistochemistry results showed that the expressions of the three studied proteins were very similar in the epithelia of chronic esophagitis and para-cancer mucosa （P〉0.05）. Both the qualitative and quantitative studies displayed that the P53 protein had no expression and its accumulations would appear only in the early stages of esophagus canceration while the MDM2 and P27 proteins had different degrees of expressions in cases of normal esophageal mucosa. MDM2 protein markedly increased in the advanced stages of esophageal canceration. A quantitative study showed that the expression of P27 protein had a linearity of decreasing tendency （F=9.132, P=0.002） in the course of esophageal canceration. Conclusion： Chronic esophagitis may be a precancerous lesion. Owing to the changes of the P53 and P27 proteins, we can also conclude that these occur in the early stages of esophagus oncogenesis, however the changes of MDM2 expression may occur in the advanced stage of esophageal canceration.

Apoptosis and Proinflammatory Cytokine Responses of Primary Mouse Microglia and Astrocytes Induced by Human H1N1 and Avian H5N1 Influenza Viruses

Patients with an influenza virus infection can be complicated by acute encephalopathy and encephalitis. To investigate the immune reactions involved in the neurocomplication, mouse microglia and astrocytes were isolated, infected with human H1N1 and avian H5N1 influenza viruses, and examined for their immune responses. We observed homogeneously distributed viral receptors, sialic acid （SA）-a2,3-Galactose （Gal） and SA-a2,6-Gal, on microglia and astrocytes. Both viruses were replicative and productive in microglia and astrocytes. Virus-induced apoptosis and cytopathy in infected cells were observed at 24 h post-infection （p.i.）. Expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-a mRNA examined at 6 h and 24 h p.i. was up-regulated, and their expression levels were considerably higher in H5N1 infection. The amounts of secreted proinflammatory IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-a at 6 h and 24 h p.i. were also induced, with greater induction by H5N1 infection. This study is the first demonstration that both human H1N1 and avian H5N1 influenza viruses can infect mouse microglia and astrocytes and induce apoptosis, cytopathy, and proinflammatory cytokine production in them in vitro. Our results suggest that the direct cellular damage and the consequences of immunopathological injury in the CNS contribute to the influenza viral pathogenesis. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology.