Long noncoding RNA-antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus accelerates wound healing in diabetes by promoting lymphangiogenesis via regulating miR-181a/Prox1 axis.

BACKGROUND: Slow lymphangiogenesis is one crucial reason for the impaired wound healing process in diabetes. Accumulative evidence showed that long noncoding RNA-antisense noncoding RNA in the INK4 locus (ANRIL) could influence lymphangiogenesis. Besides, miR-181a has been reported to regulate Prox1 that is essential for lymphangiogenesis. However, the relationship between ANRIL and miR-181a as well as the definitive function of ANRIL in lymphangiogenesis is not clear. METHODS: The diabetic mouse model was set up to assess the wound healing rate in vivo. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expressions of ANRIL, miR-181a, and Prox1. Western blot analysis was used to assess the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3, lymphatic vessel hyaluronan receptor-1, Prox1, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins. Flow cytometry was used to assess the cell apoptosis. Wound healing assay was used to determine the effect of ANRIL on cell migration. Tube-formation assay and immunofluorescence staining were performed to determine tube-formation capacity of human dermal lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). RESULTS: ANRIL and Prox1 were downregulated, whereas miR-181a was upregulated in the diabetic wound healing mouse model and high glucose (HG)-induced LECs. The wound healing rate and EMT were inhibited during the diabetic wound healing process. Dual-luciferase assay proved that miR-181a could bind Prox1 to repress its expression, whereas ANRIL could sponge miR-181a to recover Prox1 expression. Overexpression of ANRIL or inhibition of miR-181a rescued the impairments of survival, migration, EMT formation, and tube formation of LECs caused by HG. CONCLUSION: ANRIL could promote lymphangiogenesis during the diabetic wound healing process via sponging miR-181a to enhance Prox1 expression, which might help design new therapy to improve the wound healing efficacy for diabetes.

CD36- and obesity-associated granulosa cells dysfunction.

Emerging evidence indicates that obesity impairs granulosa cell (GC) function, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Gene expression profiles in GC of non-polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) obese (NPO), PCOS obese (PO), PCOS normal weight (PN) and non-PCOS normal weight (NPN) patients were analysed by microarray analysis. Compared with the NPN group, there were 16, 545 and 416 differently expressed genes in the NPO, PO and PN groups respectively. CD36 was the only intersecting gene, with greater than two fold changes in expression between the NPO versus NPN and PO versus NPN comparisons, and was not present in the PN versus NPN comparison. In addition, levels of CD36 protein were higher in GC from obese than normal weight patients. Furthermore, CD36 overexpression in a GC line inhibited cell proliferation, as determined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) test, promoted cell apoptosis, as determined by flow cytometry, and inhibited the secretion of oestradiol by depositing triglyceride in cells and increasing cellular lipid peroxide levels. These adverse effects were reduced by sulfo-N-succinimidyloleate, a specific inhibitor of CD36. Together, the findings of this study suggest that obesity with and without PCOS should be regarded as separate entities, and that CD36 overexpression in GC of obese patients is one of the mechanisms by which obesity impairs GC function.

[Small cell malignant tumors of bone: comparison between diagnosis using core needle biopsies and surgical specimens].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pathologic diagnosis and immunohistochemistry of small cell malignant tumors (SCMT) of bone using both core needle biopsy and surgical specimen. METHODS: Seventy-seven cases of SCMT with core needle biopsies and surgical specimens available were respectively analyzed by histologic examination and immunohistochemical study, with literature review. RESULTS: The male-to-female ratio was 48:29. The age of the patients ranged from 6 to 73 years. The tumors studied included Ewing sarcoma/PNET (n = 38), myeloma (n = 23), lymphoma (n = 10), small cell osteosarcoma (n = 2), small cell carcinoma (n = 2) and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (n = 2). The tumors involved limbs, axial skeleton and flat bones. Microscopically, the tumors shared similar histology, with small round cells and spindly cells arranged in diffuse sheets. The pathologic diagnosis by core needle biopsies correlated with that by surgical specimens in 84.4% (65/77) of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: SCMT represents a heterogeneous group of malignancy. Correlations with clinicoradiologic findings and application of ancillary investigations including immunohistochemistry and molecular study are important for definitive diagnosis. Pathologic diagnosis using core needle biopsies shows good results and provides useful information for surgical planning.

Elaiophylin triggers paraptosis and preferentially kills ovarian cancer drug-resistant cells by inducing MAPK hyperactivation.

Finely tuned mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is important for cancer cell survival. Perturbations that push cells out of the MAPK fitness zone result in cell death. Previously, in a screen of the North China Pharmaceutical Group Corporation's pure compound library of microbial origin, we identified elaiophylin as an autophagy inhibitor. Here, we demonstrated a new role for elaiophylin in inducing excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, ER-derived cytoplasmic vacuolization, and consequent paraptosis by hyperactivating the MAPK pathway in multiple cancer cells. Genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 knockout library screening identified SHP2, an upstream intermediary of the MAPK pathway, as a critical target in elaiophylin-induced paraptosis. The cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay further confirmed the direct binding between the SHP2 and elaiophylin. Inhibition of the SHP2/SOS1/MAPK pathway through SHP2 knockdown or pharmacological inhibitors distinctly attenuated elaiophylin-induced paraptosis and autophagy inhibition. Interestingly, elaiophylin markedly increased the already-elevated MAPK levels and preferentially killed drug-resistant cells with enhanced basal MAPK levels. Elaiophylin overcame drug resistance by triggering paraptosis in multiple tumor-bearing mouse models resistant to platinum, taxane, or PARPi, suggesting that elaiophylin might offer a reasonable therapeutic strategy for refractory ovarian cancer.

[Clinicopathologic features of primary osteosarcoma in elderly patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of primary osteosarcoma in elderly patients. METHODS: Twelve cases of primary osteosarcoma occurring in patients older than 60 years were encountered during the period from 1985 to 2010. The clinical manifestations, radiologic features and pathologic findings were studied and the follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: The sites of involvement included long bones (number = 7), ilium (number = 1), craniofacial bones (number = 2) and soft tissue (number = 2). Radiologic examination showed a mixture of osteosclerotic and osteolytic lesions in 10 patients, soft tissue lesions with high-density areas in 2 patients and soft tissue lesions with periosteal reaction in 8 patients. Histologically, most cases showed features of conventional osteosarcoma. There were 2 cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma-like osteosarcoma, 2 cases of chondroblastic osteosarcoma and 1 case of well-differentiated intraosseous osteosarcoma. Immunohistochemical study played little role in pathologic diagnosis. Ten patients had undergone amputation, including one patient who had received adjuvant chemotherapy beforehand. Nine patients had follow-up information available. Three of them died of lung metastasis and 1 died of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Primary osteosarcoma rarely occurs in elderly patients and can easily be missed. Correlation with clinical, radiologic and histologic features is important for arriving at a correct diagnosis.

[Visual analysis of literature knowledge structure and acupoint matching rules of acupuncture for depression].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literature knowledge structure and acupoint matching rules of acupuncture for depression. METHODS: The articles regarding acupuncture for depression published from January 1 of 1984 to October 19 of 2020 were searched in CNKI database. CiteSpace5.7.R2 software was used to import the literature data, and the keyword cluster analysis, emergence analysis and time-zone analysis of articles and acupoints were conducted, and the map of scientific knowledge was draw. RESULTS: A total of 3524 articles were included to the knowledge structure analysis, while 601 articles into the acupoint matching rules analysis. There were 13 keyword clusters of acupuncture for depression, with "post-stroke depression" and "electroacupuncture treatment" as high-frequency keywords, and "electroacupuncture treatment" and "Hamilton depression scale" had high centrality, and "electroacupuncture treatment" had the highest emergence intensity. The keywords such as "electroacupuncture treatment" and "Hamilton depression scale", etc. appeared the earliest, followed by "post-stroke depression", "fluoxetine" and "auricular point therapy", etc. According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, acupoint keywords were divided into four clusters: ①core acupoint, ②replenishing-spleen and dispelling phlegm, dispersing-liver and relieving depression, reinforcing qi and nourishing blood, ③back-shu points, five-zhi points, ④inducing-resuscitation and opening-closes. CONCLUSION: The main knowledge structure of acupuncture for depression includes five parts: treatment method, depression type, TCM-related diseases, literature type and curative effect index. Clinical acupoint matching should adhere to the principle of "focusing the disease before syndrome" and "combination of disease and syndrome", and treatment should be modified for the syndromes of phlegm stagnation blocking, liver-stagnation and qi-stagnation, and deficiency of both qi and blood.

Preliminary proteomic analysis of circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophils from rabbits experiencing scald injury and Staphylococcus aureus sepsis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to identify the differentially expressed proteins in circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) from scalded bacteremia rabbits infected with Staphylococcus aureus to provide a basis to reveal the pathogenesis of burns and sepsis. METHODS: Rabbits were subjected to sham burn (A), A + bacterial challenge (B), 30% scald injury (C), or C + bacterial challenge (D). Bacterial challenge was inflicted as an injection of 2.0 x 10(8) cfu S. aureus 18 h after burn procedure. Animals were sacrificed 24 h after burn. PMN were isolated, and the differential proteins in the PMN from these animals were identified by two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF-MS; two proteins were confirmed by Western blotting. RESULTS: Twenty-one differential protein spots were found, and seven differential proteins were identified. Among the identified proteins, the expression levels of protein disulfide-isomerase and thiol-specific antioxidant protein were down-regulated in groups C and D, and two protein spots of annexin I were identified, one of which was down-regulated and another up-regulated in groups C and D. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary proteome changes in PMN from rabbits experiencing scald injury and S. aureus sepsis were revealed, which possibly play an important role in the inflammation and pathogenesis of sepsis after scald injury.

[Study on adenovirus mediated antisense p38α fragment gene in suppressing apoptosis of the myocardium of neonatal rat by burn serum and hypoxia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) in the myocardium and the apoptosis in the presence of burn serum and hypoxia. METHODS: Ventricular myocardium isolated from neonatal rats were employed in this study, and they were divided into three groups as the normal control group, with the myocardium grew naturally; burn serum+ hypoxia group, in which the myocardium was stimulated by the serum collected from the rat 6 hours after burn injury involving 40% of total body surface area (TBSA), and at the same time exposed to 1%O(2), 5%CO(2), and 94%N(2); antisense blocking group, in which rats were pretreated by AD-antisense (AS) p38α, then exposed to the same conditions as burn serum+hypoxia group. The phosphorylation of p38 in the myocardium was determined by Western blotting. The level of myocardium apoptosis was determined by DNA ladder and flow cytometry. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, the level of phosphorylation of p38 (gray value) was markedly increased (8.68±0.14 vs. 3.21±0.05, P<0.01) after being exposed to burn serum and hypoxia, and at the same time myocardium apoptosis was strikingly increased [(50.367±0.451)% vs. (2.063±0.111)%, P<0.01]. When the myocardium was transfected by AD-ASp38α, the phosphorylation of p38 (gray level) was decreased remarkably (5.46±0.16 vs. 8.68±0.14, P<0.01), the rate of the apoptosis was lowered remarkably [(13.200±0.121)% vs. (50.367±0.451)%, P<0.01]. CONCLUSION: Burn serum combined with hypoxia can induce apoptosis of the myocardium by activating p38MAPK; blockage of p38MAPK signal transduction pathway may lessen the damage of the myocardium in early period of severe burn.

Efficacy and safety of endovascular coiling vs surgical clipping for patients with ruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms are relatively rare, and represent 1% of all intracranial aneurysms. Generally, endovascular coiling and surgical clipping are the 2 most commonly used methods to treat ruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms, it provides the most favorable outcome for a patient. This study aims to assess the efficiency and safety of endovascular coiling vs surgical clipping for patients with a ruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm. METHODS: A comprehensive systematic literature review was done in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and WanFang databases. Only randomized trials that compared endovascular coiling with surgical clipping in patients with ruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysm was included. Data was extracted independently by 2 review authors. Moreover, the quality of study and bias risk was evaluated by utilizing an appropriate method. Triallists will be contacted to acquire missing information. The data is presented as risk ratio and mean difference, or standardized mean difference with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: The results from the present research shall be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: The present study summarizes the direct and in-direct evidence to judge the efficiency and safety of these 2 methodologies to treat ruptured carotid-ophthalmic aneurysms and attempt to find the most efficiency and safety therapeutical method. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The present study is a meta-analysis based on published evidence. As a result, ethics approval and patient consent are not needed.

Truncated Bid Regulates Cisplatin Response via Activation of Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway in Ovarian Cancer.

Refractoriness to conventional chemotherapy is a major challenge in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer (OC). There is increasing evidence that mitochondrial priming correlates with cisplatin response in various cancers. Notably, Bim and Bid, two of the proapoptotic BH3-only proteins, are recognized as the most effective inducers of mitochondrial priming in OC. In this study, we constructed two tumor-specific oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) coding for Bim (Ad-Bim) or truncated Bid (Ad-tBid), respectively, and performed gain-of-function assays in nine OC cell lines. Ad-tBid exhibited significant antitumor efficacy than the controls. On addition of Ad-tBid pretreatment, mito-primed cells displayed more sensitivity to cisplatin both in vitro and ex vivo. We also found that Ad-tBid induced mitochondrial apoptosis in a Bak-dependent manner. Furthermore, a combined cisplatin plus Ad-tBid therapy markedly inhibited tumor growth in a subcutaneous xenotransplanted tumor model. In mice bearing peritoneal disseminated OC, intraperitoneal administration of Ad-tBid potentiated the antitumor effect of cisplatin. Our findings suggest that Ad-tBid enhances cisplatin response in OC cells, establishing the potential treatment of advanced OC via a combination of cisplatin and Ad-tBid.

Multicentric infantile myofibromatosis: a rare disorder of the calvarium.

INTRODUCTION: Infantile myofibromatosis is a rare mesenchymal disorder that occurs predominantly in infancy and early childhood, in either solitary or multicentric form. It can affect soft tissue, muscle, skeleton, and occasionally, visceral organs. Infantile myofibromatosis without visceral involvement frequently undergoes spontaneous regression. Multicentric infantile myofibromatosis with involvement exclusively of the calvarium is extremely rare. DISCUSSION: We report an 8-month-old girl who presented with multifocal calvarial lesions. The child underwent total excision of the temporal mass, and histopathological study gave a diagnosis of infantile myofibromatosis. Serial follow-up by neuroimaging was obtained at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Three months after surgery, a new lesion in the midline of frontal bone was found, and there was partial regression of the occipital lesion. Complete regression of the untreated lesions was shown at 24 months. Illustrated by our patient and literature review, we emphasize the importance of recognition and proper intervention for this rare, nonmalignant disorder.

[Giant cell tumor of bone and malignancies in giant cell tumor: a clinicopathologic analysis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of malignancies in giant cell tumor (MGCT). METHODS: The clinicopathologic features of 13 cases of MGCT were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Thirteen cases of MGCT were found amongst a total of 603 cases of giant cell tumor encountered. Six of the 13 cases represented concurrent malignancy in giant cell tumor while the remaining 7 cases was malignant transformation in recurrent giant cell tumor. The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 71 years (mean age = 39.5 years) in the first group and from 27 to 52 years (mean age = 36.7 years) in the second group. In concurrent MGCT, a high-grade sarcoma component was present in conjunction with the giant cell tumor component. In malignant transformation of recurrent giant cell tumor, the original tumor was giant cell tumor and the recurrence showed features reminiscent of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of malignancies in giant cell tumor requires correlation of clinical, radiologic and pathologic features. The entities need to be distinguished from other giant cell-rich tumors including primary malignant fibrous histiocytoma and giant cell osteosarcoma.

[Proteomic study of peripheral blood lymphocytes of rabbits with severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis on the proteomics of lymphocytes (LCs) of rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four rabbits were divided into four groups, i.e. control, severe scald, severe scald and 2-hour sepsis, severe scald and 6-hour sepsis (6 rabbits in each group). The scald in rabbits was third degree in depth involving 30% of total body surface area (TBSA). The sepsis model was reproduced by intravenous injection of a suspension of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853, 6 x 10(12)cfu/L) 1 ml/kg 24 hours after scald. The rabbits in control group were treated with warm water of 37 centigrade. Peripheral blood was obtained from the carotid artery 24 hours after scald, or 2 hours after sepsis, or 6 hours after sepsis. The LCs in each blood sample were separated, disrupted and the total proteins of LCs were extracted. The proteins were separated by two dimensional gel electrophoresis. The gels were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue and then were scanned. The images were analyzed by PD quest software. The protein spots of discrepant expression were sieved and then analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The peptide mass finger printing (PMFs) were obtained and were input into the data bank of proteins for identification of the proteins. RESULTS: The average spots of 6 gels were 1 051+/-21 (control), 1 026+/-30 (severe scald), 1 078+/- 36 (2-hour sepsis) and 1 065+/-31 (6-hour sepsis), and the average matching rate were 91% (control), 89% (severe scald), 92% (2-hour sepsis) and 94% (6-hour sepsis), respectively. No difference was found in the protein expression of LCs between 2-hour sepsis group and 6-hour sepsis group, but the protein expression of LCs in severe scald group, 2-hour sepsis group and 6-hour sepsis group differed when compared with control group. Nineteen protein spots expressed discrepancy were sieved and their PMFs were obtained. Twelve protein spots (including 11 proteins) were identified, including Cofilin, peptidyl- prolyl cis-trans isomerase cyclophilin A, ubiquitin, nucleoside diphosphate kinase, glutamate dehydrogenase, selenium binding protein I, beta-actin, peroxiredoxin-6, annexin I, actin-3, cellular retinoic-acid binding protein. CONCLUSION: The proteomics of peripheral blood LCs alters in rabbits with severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis. The proteins with discrepant expression included 11 proteins, which are related with the folding, assembling, transportation and degradation of proteins, signal transmission, inflammation, immunization, energy metabolism, the proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of cells. These proteins might be associated with the pathogenesis of severe burn and Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis.

[Myositis ossificans: a clinicopathologic analysis of 15 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of myositis ossificans (MO). METHODS: The clinical features, radiologic results and pathologic findings of 15 cases of MO (including biopsy and surgical specimens) were analyzed. The hematoxylin and eosin sections were reviewed under light microscope. Immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein, vimentin, desmin, actin and osteonectin was performed. RESULTS: The age of the patients ranged from 12 to 46 years. The male-to-female ratio was 11:4. Thirteen cases were located in the parosteum of long bone or subperiosteal soft tissue. The remaining two cases occurred in iliac region and palm, respectively. Five patients had history of injury, while 2 patients had operation before. Four patients had no history of trauma and the remaining one had unknown clinical history. Histologically, zonation pattern was not conspicuous in 10 biopsy cases and 8 corresponding surgical specimens. On the other hand, zonation pattern was observed in 5 biopsy cases and 7 corresponding surgical specimens. Follow up revealed relapses in two patients. Immunohistochemical study showed various degree of positivity for vimentin, desmin, actin and osteonectin. S-100 protein was focally positive in 2 of the cases. The Ki-67 index varied from 1% to 10%. CONCLUSION: Correct diagnosis of MO relies on correlation of clinical features, radiologic examination and pathologic findings.

[Malignant giant cell tumor of the tendon sheaths in the hand].

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively study on malignant giant cell tumor of tendon sheath (MGCTTS) in the hand, and to evaluate its clinical, histologic, immunohistochemical features and biologic evolution. METHODS: Between January 1991 and December 2001, 10 patients with histologically proven MGCTTS were treated. The clinical material, radiographs and hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections were reviewed. Immunohistochemical studies and nuclear suspensions for flow cytometry were done on paraffin embedded tissue. All patients were followed up. RESULTS: Three of 10 patients in which the diagnosis of MGCTTS was originally considered were excluded after the slides reviewed and immunohistochemical examination performed. In the other 7 patients, one showed malignant and aggressive nature: the lesion recurred several times and the patient eventually died with pulmonary metastases. The immunohistochemical profile of the patient was similar to that reported in benign GCTTS, and the flow cytometry DNA analysis detected aneuploidy. Six cases presented histologic features of malignancy, 4 of them undertook the immunohistochemical examination and their profiles were similar to that reported in benign GCTTS. An aneuploidy DNA pattern was detected in one case on flow cytometry evaluation, diploidy DNA pattern was detected in 3 cases, and their S-phase fraction was 4.5%, 11.6% and 2.6% respectively. All of them had a benign clinical features, they were alive and without evidence of disease from 1.5 to 7.5 years (averagely, 4.5 years) after complete surgical excision or resections with wide surgical margins. None of them had received chemotherapy or radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Malignant giant cell tumor of tendon sheath is an extremely rare malignant tumor, some cases have a poor outcome, the others, despite the histologically malignant features, have a good prognosis if wide surgical excision ablates the tumor completely.

[Pathological experimental study of autologous skin transplant on retained denatured dermis].

OBJECTIVE: To identify the pathological character of denatured dermis,and its turnover after autologous skin transplant. METHODS: Deep partial thickness burn wounds whose diameter was 2.5 cm were produced on the back of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. After simple debriding,xenogenic skin was transplanted. Superficial tangential excision was performed on the burn wounds on 48 hours postburn with the preservation of denatured dermis. Split thickness autologous skin was grafted on the wounds immediately. Tissue samples of whole layer of the skin were harvested from the grafted sites at different time points after the skin grafting. Pathological observation on the denatured skin and the transplanted skin was carried out with HE and Massonos trichrome blue. RESULTS: The superficial cells of the denatured dermis necrotized largely with few cells alive,collagen denatured,and many inflammatory cells infiltrating. Necrosis tissue and inflammatory cells could be found in the denatured skin in the early period after the skin transplant. There were infiltrated inflammatory cells in the transplanted skin 3 days after the skin transplant. On the 10th day,the necrotized tissue diminished markedly,and red cells were found in its upper stratum. On the 21st day, the morphology and structure of the transplanted skin were similar to those of the normal skin. CONCLUSION: The retained denatured dermis has little effect on the survival of the transplanted skin. The necrosis components can be absorbed and replaced by the tissue alive after the autologous skin is transplanted.

Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Desmoplastic Fibroblastoma by Clinical, Radiological, and Histopathological Analyses.

BACKGROUND: Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma) is an uncommon benign soft-tissue tumor, rarely involving bone. It shares some overlapping features with other infiltrate tumors, such as desmoid-type fibromatosis, neurofibroma, and low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. The misdiagnosis may cause unnecessary surgical overtreatment, especially for those involving bone. In order to deepen the understanding of the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of desmoplastic fibroblastoma, we planned to analyze the clinical, radiological, and histopathological features and the outcome of desmoplastic fibroblastoma on the basis of case analysis and literature review. METHODS: Sixteen cases were retrieved from the surgical pathology records from May 2011 to April 2016 in the Department of Pathology in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens of 16 cases of desmoplastic fibroblastoma were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin stain and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the histological features of desmoplastic fibroblastoma of soft tissue and bone. The images for diagnosis obtained from the ultrasonic examination, X-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography were used to observe the radiological features. Related literatures were retrieved from the PubMed and CNKI databases. RESULTS: Sixteen cases of desmoplastic fibroblastoma of soft tissue were located in the hand (n = 7), foot (n = 4), upper arm (n = 1), shoulder (n = 1), forearm (n = 2), and one case occurred in the proximal femur. Age ranged from 32 to 82 years (median age: 58 years). There were six females and ten males. Histologically, the lesions of soft tissue appeared as well-circumscribed masses with abundant collagenous matrix and low vascularity. Tumor cells were stellate- or spindle-shaped and uniformly distributed within the extracellular matrix. In five cases, the desmoplastic fibroblastoma were found to have infiltrated into the skeletal muscle tissue. In one case of desmoplastic fibroblastoma of bone, radiographs revealed osteolytically well-defined lesion. Immunohistochemistry stain showed that vimentin and smooth muscle actin were positive in all cases of desmoplastic fibroblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma) has prominent clinical, histopathological, and radiological features. Before the differential diagnosis from other tumors is obtained by thorough analysis and comparison of the similar and different characteristics, the appropriate surgical management and accurate prognosis evaluation could not be delivered to the patient.

[The role of PPARbeta in the apoptotic HaCaT keratinocytes induced by TNF-alpha].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the change of transcription activity and expression of PPARbeta in the apoptotic HaCaT keratinocytes induced by TNF-alpha. METHODS: HaCaT keratinocytes were exposed to different concentration TNF-alpha for 24 hours. Apoptotic morphological changes and percentage of apoptotic nuclei were assayed with Hoechst 33258 staining. Activities of Caspase-3 were analyzed with Caspase Colorimetric Assay Kit after HaCaT keratinocytes were exposed to TNF-alpha (10 and 20 ng/ml) for indicated durations. The expression of PPARbeta in HaCaT keratinocytes treated with TNF-alpha was observed by Western-blot and RT-PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated a impermanency increase in PPARbeta binding activity with DNA. Furthermore, luciferase assay system were employed to analyze PPARbeta transcription activity. RESULTS: The apoptosis of HaCaT keratinocytes treated with different concentration TNF-alpha for 24 hours was increased by Hoechst 33258 stained, and fluorescent microscopy showed apoptotic cells with condensed chromatin. The nuclear apoptotic percentage were (12 +/- 3)%, (32 +/- 4)%, (57 +/- 5)%, respectively, in HaCaT keratinocytes exposed to TNF-alpha (5, 10, 20 ng/ml) for 24 hours. The activation of Caspase-3 were enhanced in HaCaT keratinocytes treated with TNF-alpha (10 or 20 ng/ml) for indicated durations (P < 0.01). The expression of PPARbeta protein significantly increased in HaCaT keratinocytes treated with TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) for 12 and 24 hours. After exposure to different concentration of TNF-alpha for 24 hours, Western-blot analysis demonstrated to augment the expression of PPARbeta in HaCaT keratinocytes. RT-PCR testified the expression of PPARbeta mRNA is markedly increased in HaCaT keratinocytes treated with TNF-alpha (10,20 ng/ml) for 3 hours and 6 hours. PPARbeta-DNA binding was assessed by EMSA using a PPARbeta response element (PPRE) and nuclear extracts prepared from HaCaT keratinocytes treated for 30 minutes and 60 minutes with 10 ng/ml of TNF-alpha demerstrated TNF-alpha enhanced PPARbeta DNA binding activity. Furthermore, luciferase assay system obtained TNF-alpha increased PDK1 activity through an PPARbeta-dependent pathway. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha could increase the expression and transcription activity of PPARbeta in HaCaT keratinocytes.

[Effect of dexamethasone on spontaneously apoptosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils from postburn rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of dexamethasone on spontaneously apoptosis, bcl-2, and neuclear facor kappa (NFkappaB) expressions of polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) from postburn rabbits. METHODS: PMN were isolated from 8 rabbits on 24 postburn hours and cultured with normal serum (NS), burn serum (BS), normal serum plus dexamethasone (ND), and burn serum plus dexamethasone (BD) for 24 hours, respectively. The quantification of apoptosis was analyzed by acridine orange + ethidium bromide fluorescent staining and flow cytometry , and the contents of bcl-2 and NFkappaB protein detected by immunohistochemical method. RESULTS: In the BS group, the percentage of apoptotic PMN decreased (compared with NS group, 6.18 +/- 0.96 vs. 21.77 +/- 2.32, P<0.05), and the contents of bcl-2 and NFkappaB protein increased (compared with NS group, 83.27 +/- 5.45 vs. 49.95 +/- 2.67, P<0.05). When compared with BS group, the apoptotic percentage of BD group increased (12.67 +/- 0.71 vs. 6.18 +/- 0.96, P<0.05), and the content of NFkappaB protein reduced (0. 1031 +/- 0.0154 vs. 0.1802 +/- 0.0130, P<0.05), but no significant difference between ND and NS group was found. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone decreases the inhibition of PMN apoptosis by bumn serum, which may be associated with the down-regulation of NFKB expression.