[Effects of shading on photosynthetic physiology and energy metabolism of Asarum forbesii].

Light is the main source for plants to obtain energy.Asarum forbesii is a typical shade medicinal plant, which generally grows in the shady and wet place under the bushes or beside the ditches.It can grow and develop without too much light intensity.This experiment explores the effects of shading on the growth, physiological characteristics and energy metabolism of A.forbesii, which can provide reference and guidance for its artificial planting.In this experiment, A.forbesii was planted under 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% and no shade.During the vigorous growth period, the photosynthetic physiological characteristics such as fluorescence parameters, photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigment content and ultrastructure, as well as the content of mitochondrial electron transport chain(ETC) synthase and nutrients were measured.The results showed that the photosynthetic pigment content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and net photosynthesis rate(P_n) decreased with the decrease of shading.Under 20%-40% shading treatment, the plants had damaged ultrastructure, expanded and disintegrated chloroplast, disordered stroma lamella and grana lamella, and increased osmiophi-lic granules and starch granules.The activities of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase(NADH), succinate dehydrogenase(SDH), cytochrome C oxidoreductase(CCO) and adenosine triphosphate(ATP) synthasewere positively related to light intensity.With the reduction of shading, the content of total sugar and protein in nutrients increased first and then decreased, and the content was the highest under 60% shade.In conclusion, under 60%-80% shading treatment, the chloroplast and mitochondria had more complete structure, faster energy metabolism, higher light energy-conversion efficiency, better absorption and utilization of light energy and more nutrient synthesis, which was more suitable for the growth and development of A.forbesii.

Expression of PTTG1 and PTEN in endometrial carcinoma: correlation with tumorigenesis and progression.

Human pituitary tumor-transforming gene 1 (PTTG1) is a newly identified proto-oncogene, and its overexpression occurs in a wide variety of human cancers. The tumor suppressor gene phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) is frequently mutated or deleted in numerous tumors, especially in endometrial carcinoma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the aberrant expression of PTTG1 and PTEN is associated with tumorigenesis and progression of endometrial carcinoma. Tissue microarray and immunohistochemical staining were undertaken in 124 endometrial carcinoma, 28 atypical hyperplasia and 35 normal endometrium samples. Then, the correlation of PTTG1 and PTEN expression with the clinicopathological features and with the levels of estrogen and progesterone receptor was analyzed. The presence of PTTG1 and PTEN protein was significantly increased and decreased, respectively, as lesions progressed from normal endometrium to atypical hyperplasia to carcinoma. PTTG1 protein showed a significantly positive correlation with TNM stage, but not with other characteristics. In addition, PTEN protein did not correlate with any parameters except for histological grade, to which it was found to be inversely related. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant relationship between an increase in PTTG1 and a decrease in PTEN. These results indicate that high expression of PTTG1 and low expression of PTEN may be involved in pathogenesis and development of endometrial carcinoma. The findings also provide evidence that combined evaluation of the two markers may be useful in predicting tumor behavior and thus prognosis.

[Relationship between the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha and chemotherapy response in gastric carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha expression with chemotherapy response in gastric cancer and its clinical outcome. METHODS: Leucovorin (CF) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in combination with oxaliplatin (L-OHP) were used in 52 patients with gastric carcinoma (GC) at advanced stage. CF 200 mg/m(2) was intravenous drop for 2 h at day 1 and day 14. 5-FU 1500 mg/m(2) was continuously intravenous drop for 46 h at day 1 and day 14. L-OHP 85 mg/m(2) was intravenous drop for 2 h at day 1 and day 14. Four-week was one cycle. All the patients received 4 cycles of chemotherapy at least. Chemotherapy response and clinical outcome were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the protein expressions of HIF-1alpha, P-gp and MRP4 by tissue microarray in GC. Twenty-seven normal gastric tissue samples were used as control group. RESULTS: The positive expression rates of HIF-lalpha, P-gp and MRP4 in tumor samples were 53.9%, 51.9% and 57.7% respectively, which were significantly higher than those in normal gastric tissues (0, 18.5% and 14.8% respectively) (P<0.05). In cases with positive expression of HIF-lalpha, the response rate was 14.3%; whereas in cases with negative expression of HIF-1alpha, the response rate was 50.0%. There was significant difference between two groups (P<0.05). In patients of HIF-1alpha positive expression,the median progression-free survival time was 4.7 months,the median survival time was 8.8 months, and 1-year, 2-year survival rates were 37.5% and 21.5% respectively. In patients of HIF-1alpha negative expression, the median progression-free survival time was 8.4 months, the median survival time was l2.6 months, and 1-year, 2-year survival rates were 51.2% and 33.5% respectively. There were significant differences between two groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: HIF-1alpha expression may be a useful indicator to predict the chemotherapy response and clinical outcome in gastric carcinoma.

[Expression and significance of Notch1 and PTEN in gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Notch homolog 1 (Notch1) belongs to the Notch family of transmembrane receptors and plays an important role in cell differentiation. Notch1 plays a profound role in carcinogenesis and can be both oncogenic and tumor suppressive. However, the correlation of Notch1 expression to clinicopathologic features of gastric cancer is unclear. This study was to investigate the expression and significance of Notch1 and PTEN in gastric cancer. METHODS: The expression of Notch1 and PTEN in a tissue microarray containing 168 spots of gastric cancer tissue and 27 spots of normal gastric tissue was detected by SP immunohistochemistry. The correlation of Notch1 expression to PTEN expression, and their correlations to the clinicophathologic features of gastric cancer were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive rate of Notch1 was significantly higher in gastric cancer than in normal gastric tissue (61.9% vs. 25.9%, P<0.05), and closely related to tumor size (P<0.01), differentiation grade (P<0.01), depth of invasion (P<0.01) and vessel invasion (P<0.05). The positive rate of PTEN was significantly lower in gastric cancer than in normal gastric tissue (47.0% vs. 92.6%, P<0.01), and related to tumor size (P<0.01), differentiation grade (P<0.05), depth of invasion (P<0.01), vessel invasion (P<0.05), lymph node metastasis (P<0.05) and distant metastasis (P<0.05). The expression of Notch1 was negatively correlated to that of PTEN (r=-0.170, P<0.05). The 3-year survival rate was significantly higher in Notch1-negative patients than in Notch1-positive patients (78.0% vs. 34.0%, P<0.01), and was significantly higher in PTEN-positive patients than in PTEN-negative patients (62.0% vs.38.0%, P<0.01). COX regression analysis showed that Notch1 expression was an independent prognostic factor of gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The dys-regulation of PTEN and Notch1 expression may correlate to the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. Notch1 may be a novel prognostic marker of gastric cancer.

Diagnosis and differentiation of rejection after liver transplantation: report of 5 cases.

BACKGROUND: The most common complications after liver transplantation are acute and chronic rejection. Although special changes can be found clinically and pathologically in both of them, sometimes other complications such as preservation injury, recurrent disease (HBV) and hepatic artery thrombosis should be differentiated from them. METHODS: Five patients with various complications after liver transplantation were synthetically analyzed according to their clinical information, laboratory tests and liver biopsy findings so as to find out the clinical rules and the histological features. RESULTS: Special changes and diagnostic standards were found clinically and pathologically in both acute and chronic rejection. Other complications such as fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis and hepatic artery thrombosis also had their own pathological features. Evaluation of donor liver should be done before liver transplantation. CONCLUSION: It is very important to understand and master the diagnostic standards of rejection and the major points for its differentiation.