[The expression and significance of CD(276) and CD(133) in colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions].

In order to study the significance of CD(276) and CD(133) in the development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), the expression of CD(276) and CD(133) was detected by immunohistochemistry in CRC and precancerous lesions. The results showed that the intensity of CD(276) and CD(133) in CRC samples was higher than that in adenoma group and non-adenoma group. CD(276) and CD(133) single and double positive expression were significantly correlated with CRC lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and survival. CD(276) and CD(133) are significantly correlated to the development and progression of CRC and associated with poor prognosis.

Immunohistochemical study on endocrine-like tumor cells in colorectal carcinomas.

AIM: To evaluate the clinical significance of endocrine-like tumor cells in human colorectal carcinomas. METHODS: The immunohistochemistry method (ABC) using a rabbit polyclonal antibody against human chromogranin A (CGA) was employed to determine changes in endocrine-like tumor cells from the surgically resected colorectal carcinoma tissues of patients (35 males and 27 females, aged from 19 to 78 years, with a mean age of 50.3 years). Of the 62 specimens, 44 were from rectal carcinomas, 18 from colonic carcinomas, 14 from lymph nodes and 48 from non-involvement. Dukes classification revealed 19 of the cases were in stage A, 29 cases were in stage B and 14 cases were in stage C. All of the specimens were fixed with 10% formalin, embedded with paraffin and cut into 5 µm sections. Additionally, the correlations among CGA-positive tumor cells, as well as the clinicopathologic data, age and sex of the patients, were also investigated. RESULTS: CGA-positive tumor cells were found in 35.5% of the patients with colorectal cancers, representing 20.0% (5 of 25) and 45.9% (17 of 37) of the aged and non-aged, respectively. These differences were significant (χ(2) test, P < 0.05). Nevertheless, no significant correlations were found between the CGA-positive tumor cells and the sex, Dukes stages, tumor location, degree of histological differentiation or presence of lymph node metastasis. CONCLUSION: The low incidence of endocrine-like tumor cells found in the aged patients may be a new pathological feature for colorectal carcinomas, which could explain why the aged patients usually had a better prognosis. The exact significance of these findings requires further characterization.

Isolation, culture and plantlet regeneration from cotyledon and mesophyll protoplasts of two pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genotypes.

Optimal protoplast yields from cotyledons (2.0×10(6) protoplasts/ 0.5 g tissue) and from true leaves (5.0×10(6) protoplasts/g tissue) of two Cucumis sativus genotypes were obtained following a 16 h digestion with, respectively, 1.25% pectinase+0.5% Cellulysin and 0.5 % pectinase+ 1.0% Cellulysin. Enzyme solutions were prepared in modified MS medium containing half-strength major salts, full complement of minor salts and vitamins, 2% sucrose and 0.25 M mannitol. A plating density of 3.5-4.0× 10(4) protoplasts/ml or higher was required for sustained division, with first division occurring in 6-7 days, second-third division in 8-9 days, and minicalli formation by day 13. Embedding in 0.4% agarose provided the highest plating efficiency (proportion that formed minicalli) of mesophyll protoplasts, which was 28.3% for genotype 3672 and 15% for genotype 3676. By comparison, liquid culture and droplet culture gave lower plating efficiencies (10-19%). Cotyledon and mesophyll protoplasts of one genotype formed minicalli on MS medium containing 2,4-D/BA at 1.0/2.5 µM and 5.0/5.0 µM, respectively, within 21 days, while mesophyll protoplasts of the second genotype formed minicalli on MS medium containing NAA/BA at 5.0/5.0 µM within 12 days. Shoot buds or somatic embryos were obtained upon subculture of calli to MS medium containing lower concentrations (0.05-0.01 µM) of 2,4-D/BA or NAA/BA and a few plantlets, ca.18, were recovered on hormone-free medium.