Large cystic-solid pulmonary hamartoma: A case report.

BACKGROUND: It now seems that all pulmonary hamartomas (PHs) are large cystic-solid lesions that are difficult to diagnose. However, few cases of large cystic-solid PHs have been reported. The present case report presents a large cystic-solid PH and provides a literature review of the imaging features, formation mechanism and histopathological basis of PHs. CASE SUMMARY: A 53-year-old woman with no clinical symptoms underwent a chest computed tomography (CT) examination at our hospital. Nonenhanced CT images revealed a large, flat tumor with multiple air-containing cysts in the left thoracic cavity and a cystic part confined to the medial side of the tumor; the solid part of the tumor showed abundant fat and lamellar soft tissue components. Multiple small blood vessels were detected in the solid part of the tumor on contrast-enhanced CT images. Given the large size of the lesion, the patient elected to undergo surgery. Histological examination revealed PH. A detailed review of the patient's CT imaging showed that the lesion had a small vascular pedicle to the left lower lobe, which was a clue to its lung tissue histological origin. According to immunohistochemical staining, the confined multiple air-containing cysts were caused by the entrapment of respiratory/alveolar epithelium. CONCLUSION: This case shows the imaging manifestations of a large PH. Heightened awareness of its formation mechanism and histopathological basis may alert radiologists to consider this diagnosis in their daily workflow.

Lipid Accumulation and IL-6 Production in L02 Hepatocytes Induced by Sodium Oleate: Dose and Time Dependence.

To explore interleukin-6 (IL-6) production and characterize lipid accumulation in L02 hepatocytes induced by sodium oleate. L02 hepatocytes were incubated with 0, 37.5, 75, 150, 300, 600, or 1,200 µmol/L sodium oleate for 24 h, and the supernatant was collected to detect the concentration of IL-6. L02 hepatocytes were incubated with 300, 150, 75, or 0 µmol/L sodium oleate for 0-24 h. The supernatant was collected for detection of IL-6 and free fatty acids. L02 hepatocytes treated with 300 µmol/L sodium oleate for 0-24 h were stained with Oil Red O. With extended sodium oleate incubation time, IL-6 levels increased, and free fatty acids decreased. After 24 h incubation, IL-6 levels increased as sodium oleate increased from 37.5 to 300 µmol/L ( P < 0.05 for 37.5 µmol/L, P < 0.01 for 75 µmol/L and P < 0.001 for concentrations 150 µmol/L or higher). Lipid accumulation increased as the sodium oleate concentration and incubation time increased. Oil Red O staining intensified with incubation time extending beyond 2 h. IL-6 production and lipid accumulation in L02 hepatocytes are influenced by sodium oleate in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Subchronic toxicity of cerium nitrate by 90-day oral exposure in wistar rats.

This study evaluated the subchronic toxicity of cerium nitrate and determined the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) in Wistar rats. In accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guidelines, cerium nitrate was orally administered to Wistar rats by gavage at 0, 0.2, 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg bw/day for 90 days, followed by 28 days of recovery period in the 300 mg/kg bw/day and the control groups. The following parameters were evaluated: mortality, abnormalities, body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum biochemistry, urinanalysis, gross necropsy and histopathology. At the end of the treatment, several significant changes were observed in the 300 mg/kg bw/day groups: relatively decreased mean body weight of males, increased LYMPH%, RET% and decreased NEUT%, RBC of the females, increased ALT, AST and decreased ALB, T-Bil, CHO, CK, LDH of males. Significantly decreased T-Bil, CHO, CK and LDH were also observed in males of the 150 mg/kg bw/day group. Pathological examination revealed that the incidences of foreign body granulomatous lesions in lungs were higher in the 150 and 300 mg/kg bw/day groups as compared with the control group. These findings were attributed to unexpected gavage exposure because the granuloma exhibited a bronchiole-derived distribution. Taken together, the NOAEL of cerium nitrate in Wistar rats is set to be 75 mg/kg bw/day in the present study.

Radiologic features of Castleman's disease involving the renal sinus: A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: We present a rare case of plasma cell type of Castleman's disease (CD) involving only the right renal sinus in a 65-year-old woman with a duplex collecting system (DCS). CASE SUMMARY: The patient presented with a right renal sinus lesion after renal ultrasonography. Subsequent abdominal enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the kidneys showed DCS and a soft tissue mass with mild enhancement at the lower right renal sinus. The lesion was suspected to be a malignant renal pelvic carcinoma. Hence, the patient underwent a right radical nephrectomy. Histological examination revealed hyperplastic lymphoid follicles in the renal sinus. A detailed review of the patient's CT and MRI images and a literature review suggested that the lesion was hypointense on T2-weighted images and hyperintense on diffusion-weighted image manifestations, and showed mild enhancement, which distinguished the plasma cell type of CD from many other renal sinus lesions. Furthermore, peripelvic soft tissue masses with a smooth internal surface of the renal pelvis were on imaging findings, which suggests that the urinary tract epithelial system is invulnerable and can be used to differentiate the plasma cell type of CD from malignant lymphoma with a focally growth pattern to some extent. CONCLUSION: Preoperative diagnosis is often difficult in such cases, as plasma cell type of CD involving only the right kidney is exceedingly rare. However, heightened awareness of this disease entity and its radiographic presentations may alert one to consider this diagnosis.

Endocrine disruption of cadmium in rats using the OECD enhanced TG 407 test system.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the endocrine disrupting effects of cadmium (Cd) using OECD enhanced TG407 test guideline. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups and accordingly administered with 0, 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg•BW/day of Cd by gavage for 28 days. Body weight, food consumption, hematology, biochemistry, sex hormone levels, urinary ß2-microglobulin, organ weights and histopathology and estrous cycle were detected. RESULTS: Cd could significantly decrease animals' body weight (P<0.05). Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) at 10-20 mg/kg•BW groups and testosterone (T) at 2.5 and 10 mg/kg•BW groups decreased significantly (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant change was found in urinary ß2-microglobulin among Cd-treatment groups (P>0.05). Endpoints related to female reproduction including uterus weight and histopathological change at 10-20 mg/kg•BW groups showed significant increase (P<0.05). While among male rats in 2.5, 10, 20 mg/kg•BW groups, weight of prostate, thyroids, and seminal vesicle glands significantly decreased (P<0.05). Moreover, no histopathological change was observed in kidney. CONCLUSION: Results suggested that Cd can cause endocrine disrupting effects in SD rats. Comparing with possible renal toxicity of Cd, its toxicity on endocrine system was more sensitive.

[Immunotoxicologic assessment of genetically modified drought-resistant wheat T349 with GmDREB1].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the immunotoxicologic effects of genetically modified drought resistant wheat T349 with GmDREB1 gene. METHODS: A total of 250 female BALB/c mice (6-8 week-old, weight 18-22 g) were divided into five large groups (50 mice for each large group) by body weight randomly. In each large group, the mice were divided into five groups (10 mice for each group) by body weight randomly, which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control and positive control group were fed with feedstuff AIN-93G, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (proportion up to 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, organ coefficient of spleen and thymus, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell (PFC), serum 50% hemolytic value (HC50), mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected respectively. RESULTS: After 30 days raise, among negative control group, common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, mice body weight were (21.0±0.3), (20.4±0.7), (21.1±1.0), (21.1±1.0), (19.4±1.0) g, respectively (F=7.47, P<0.01); organ coefficient of spleen were (0.407±0.047)%, (0.390±0.028)%, (0.402±0.042)%, (0.421±0.041)%, (0.304±0.048)%, respectively (F=12.41, P<0.01); organ coefficient of thymus were (0.234±0.032)%, (0.246±0.028)%, (0.249±0.040)%, (0.234±0.034)%, (0.185±0.039)%, respectively (F=5.58, P<0.01); the percentage of T cell in peripheral blood were (70.43±4.44)%, (68.33±5.37)%, (73.04±2.68)%, (74.42±2.86)%, (90.42±1.66)%, respectively (F=57.51, P<0.01); the percentage of B cell were (13.89±3.19)%, (15.34±4.84)%, (13.06±4.22)%, (12.93±2.36)%, (3.01±0.96)%, respectively (F=12.79, P<0.01); the percentage of Th cell were (55.87±3.80)%, (55.24±4.60)%, (57.92±3.70)%, (59.57±2.54)%, (77.37±2.31)%, respectively (F=68.58, P<0.01);the Th/Ts ratio were 4.16±0.29, 4.73±0.96, 4.19±0.78, 4.52±0.40, 6.34±0.73, respectively (F=17.57, P<0.01);the serum IgG were (1046.38±210.67), (1065.49±297.22), (1517.73±299.52), (1576.67±241.92), (1155.88±167.05) µg/ml, respectively (F=10.53, P<0.01); the serum IgM were (333.83±18.97), (327.73±27.72), (367.47±27.18), (363.42±46.14), (278.71±24.42) µg/ml, respectively (F=12.11, P<0.01); the serum IgA were (51.69±10.10), (42.40 ± 8.35), (32.11±4.22), (37.12±4.90), (41.45±8.89) µg/ml, respectively (F=8.25, P<0.01); the PFC were (29.2±14.6), (28.0±20.0), (34.8±30.9), (33.2±25.1), (4.8±5.3) per 10(6) splenocyte, respectively (F=3.33, P<0.05); the HC50 were 82.3±6.5, 79.7±4.6, 75.8±4.1, 74.9±3.6, 70.8±2.1, respectively (F=9.99, P<0.01);the LPS-induced splenocyte proliferation were 0.21±0.10, 0.21±0.14, 0.26±0.12, 0.25±0.14, 0.07±0.06, respectively (F=4.18, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The genetically modified drought-resistant wheat T349 was substantially equivalent to parental wheat in the effects on immune organs and immunologic functions of mice, and it didn't show immunotoxicity.

Subchronic toxicity study of GH transgenic carp.

A subchronic toxicity study of GH (growth hormone) transgenic carp was carried out with 60 SD rats aged 4 weeks, weight 115∼125 g. Ten male and 10 female rats were allotted into each group. Animals of the three groups (transgenic carp group (GH-TC), parental carp group (PC) and control group) were fed soy- and alfalfa-free diet (SAFD) with 10% GH transgenic carp powder, 10% parental carp powder or 10% common carp powder for 90 consecutive days, respectively. In the end of study, animals were killed by exsanguination via the carotid artery under diethyl ether anesthesia, then weights of heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, thymus, brain, ovaries and uterus/testis were measured. Pathological examination of organs was determined. Endocrine hormones of triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid hormone (T4), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), 17ß-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and testosterone (T) levels were detected by specific ELISA kit. Parameters of blood routine and blood biochemical were measured. The weights of the body and organs of the rats, food intake, blood routine, blood biochemical test and serum hormones showed no significant differences among the GH transgenic carp-treated, parental carp-treated and control groups (P>0.05). Thus, it was concluded that at the dose level of this study, GH transgenic carp showed no subchronic toxicity and endocrine disruption to SD rats.

Tea pigments induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

AIM: To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which tea pigments exert preventive effects on liver carcinogenesis. METHODS: HepG2 cells were seeded at a density of 5X10(5)/well in six-well culture dishes and incubated overnight. The cells then were treated with various concentrations of tea pigments over 3 d, harvested by trypsinization, and counted using a hemocytometer. Flow cytometric analysis was performed by a flow cytometer after propidium iodide labeling. Bcl-2 and p21(WAF1) proteins were determined by Western blotting. In addition, DNA laddering assay was performed on treated and untreated cultured HepG2 cells. RESULTS: Tea pigments inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that tea pigments arrested cell cycle progression at G1 phase. DNA laddering was used to investigate apoptotic cell death, and the result showed that 100 mg/L of tea pigments caused typical DNA laddering. Our study also showed that tea pigments induced upregulation of p21(WAF1) protein and downregulation of Bcl-2 protein. CONCLUSION: Tea pigments induce cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. Tea pigments may be used as an ideal chemopreventive agent.

[Effects of tea polyphenols and tea pigments on apoptosis in HepG2 cell line].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of tea polyphenols and tea pigments on apoptosis in HepG2 cells. METHODS: HepG2 cells were seeded at a density of 5 x 10(5)/well in six-well culture dishes. The cells were then treated with 50 or 100 mg/L tea pigments and harvested at 48h by trypsinization. Agrose electrophoresis was applied to investigate DNA-LADDER, Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression were detected by Western blot. RESULTS: Tea polyphenols and tea pigments induced the appearance of DNA-LADDER; Western blot analysis demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression was significantly inhibited and the expression of Bax was significantly induced by tea polyphenols and tea pigments. CONCLUSION: Induction of apoptosis may be an important mechanism of cancer chemoprevention by tea.

[Effects of tea polyphenols and tea pigments on telomerase activity of HepG2 cells].

OBJECTIVE: This study is to investigate the effect of tea polyphenols and tea pigments on telomerase activity of human liver cancer cell line, HepG2 cells. METHODS: TRAP-PCR-ELISA was applied to investigate the telomerase activity. RESULTS: Telomerase was positive in tea polyphenols treated groups, tea pigments treated groups and blank control group. Telomerase activities (A(450 approximately 690) values) were 1.56 and 1.46 in 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L tea polyphenols-treated groups, 1.55 and 1.49 in 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L tea pigments-treated groups, respectively. The results showed that telomerase activity was significantly inhibited by tea polyphenols and tea pigments treatment as compared with the blank control group (A(450 approximately 690) = 2.11). CONCLUSIONS: Tea polyphenols and tea pigments could significantly inhibit telomerase activity of HepG2 cells, and telomerase activity may be a useful biomarker for cancer chemoprevention.

Chemoprevention of tea on colorectal cancer induced by dimethylhydrazine in Wistar rats.

AIM:To investigate the chemopreventive effects of green tea and tea pigment on 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced rat colorectal carcinogenesis.METHODS:Male weaning Wistar rats were randomly allocated into four groups.Rats in the positive control group were given a(c)s.c. injection of DMH, once a week for ten weeks;rats in tea treated groups, with the same DMH treatment as in the positive group, received 2% green tea and 0.1% tea pigments; rats in the negative control group were given s.c.injection of the same volume of saline as well as DMH in the positive group. Animals were sacrified and necropsied at the end of week 16 and week 32.RESULTS:Aberrant cryptic foci (ACF) were formed in animals in DMH-treated groups at the end of week 16. Compared to the DMH group, green tea and tea pigments groups had less ACF (148.25 and 204.25, respectively, P<0.01). At the end of week 32, all rats in DMH group developed large intestinal tumors. The results also showed that DMH increased labeling index (LI) of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) of intestinal mucosa and the expression of ras-p21. However, in the tea-treated groups, PCNA-LI was significantly reduced as compared with the positive control group (36.63 and 40.36 in the green tea group and tea pigment group, respectively, at the end of the experiment,P<0.01).ras-p21 expression was also significantly reduced (2.07 and 2.36 in the colon tumors of rats in the green tea group and tea pigments group, respectively at the end of the experiment, P<0.01). Furthermore, green tea and tea pigment inhibited the expression of Bcl-2 protein (2, 5, 1, 0 and 2, 4, 1, 0,respectively, at the end of the experiment P<0.01), and induced expression of Bax protein (0,1,3,4 and 0,1,4,3, respectively, P <0.01).CONCLUSION:Chinese green tea drinking inhibited ACF and colonic tumors formation in rats, which showed that tea had a significant chemopreventive effect on DMH-induced colorectal carcinogenesis. Such effects may be due to suppression of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis in the intestinal crypts.