Clinical significance of RAD51C and its contribution to ovarian carcinogenesis.

AIM: The underlying mechanisms of chemoresistance-induced recurrence of ovarian carcinoma are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of RAD51C and its role in ovarian tumorigenesis and progression. METHODS: 60 cases of ovarian epithelial tumors (30 benign and 30 malignant tumors, respectively) were enrolled from 2014 to 2016. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate RAD51C expression in tumor tissues, and RT-PCR was employed to test RAD51C mRNA levels in SKOV3, A2780, and CAOV3 cell lines. Targeted knockdown of RAD51C was achieved with siRNA to explore the changes of cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. RESULTS: RAD51C protein level in carcinoma tissues, especially in the high-grade group (P<0.001), was significantly higher than that of benign tumors and associated with pathological type, stage, and overall survival (P<0.05). Downregulation of RAD51C promoted apoptosis and decreased cell survival rate and migration. CONCLUSIONS: Our results supported that RAD51C contributes to the progression of ovarian carcinoma, suggesting its promising application as an independent prognostic marker for diagnosis and treatment.

Early anticoagulation therapy for severe burns complicated by inhalation injury in a rabbit model.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of early anticoagulation treatment on severe burns complicated by inhalation injury in a rabbit model. Under anesthetization, an electrical burns instrument (100˚C) was used to scald the backs of rabbits for 15 sec, which established a 30% III severe burns model. Treatment of the rabbits with early anticoagulation effectively improved the severe burns complicated by inhalation injury­induced lung injury, reduced PaO2, PaCO2 and SPO2 levels, suppressed the expression of tumor necrosis factor­α, interleukin (IL)­1ß and IL­6, and increased the activity of IL­10. In addition, it was found that early anticoagulation treatment effectively suppressed the activities of caspase­3 and caspase­9, upregulated the protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and decreased the protein expression of protease­activated receptor 1 (PAR1) in the severe burns model. It was concluded that early anticoagulation treatment affected the severe burns complicated by inhalation injury in a rabbit model through the upregulation of VEGF and downregulation of PAR1 signaling pathways. Thus, early anticoagulation is a potential therapeutic option for severe burns complicated by inhalation injury.

[Clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study on early gastric signet-ring cell carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of gastric and intestinal phenotypic markers in gastric signet-ring cell (SRC) carcinoma and the relationship with the clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical study was carried out in 91 cases of early-stage SRC carcinoma using MUC1, MUC5AC and MUC6 antibodies as the gastric phenotypic markers and MUC2 and CDX2 antibodies as the intestinal phenotypic markers. According to the expression of phenotypic markers, the tumors were classified into three different subgroups: gastric, intestinal and mixed. The findings were analyzed together with various clinical parameters and follow-up data. RESULTS: Amongst the 91 cases studied, 53 cases (58.2%) belonged to gastric type, 22 cases (24.2%) mixed type and 16 cases (17.6%) intestinal type. The positive rates of MUC2 and CDX2 in early submucosal carcinoma were significantly higher than those in mucosal carcinoma (P < 0.01). On the other hand, the rates of MUC5AC and MUC6 expression in early submucosal carcinoma were significantly lower than those in mucosal carcinoma (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). The rates of MUC2 and CDX2 expression in cases with lymph node metastasis and vascular invasion were significantly higher than those in cases without nodal or vascular involvement (P < 0.05). The expression of CDX2 was also significantly higher in cases with larger tumor size (P < 0.05). Cases with intestinal phenotype more likely had invasion deeper than mucosal layer and carried higher chance of lymph node metastasis (P = 0.000 and P = 0.003). Intestinal and mixed types correlated with shortened five-year survival. CONCLUSIONS: The intestinal type of SRC carcinoma is associated with poorer biologic behavior and prognosis, as compared with that of the gastric type. Classification on the basis of immunophenotypic markers may be useful in predicting prognosis and guiding treatment for patients with gastric SRC carcinoma.