A case of fat-forming solitary fibrous tumor that is prone to be confused with liposarcoma.

Fat-forming solitary fibrous tumor is a rare and specific subtype of solitary fibrous tumor. In this case, a mass of 8.3 cm in diameter was found in a 59-year-old male patient's right retroperitoneum, as revealed by abdominal contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) images. The tumor exhibited a well-circumscribed nature and histological features characterized by a combination of hemangiopericytomatous vasculature and mature adipose tissue, comprising around 70% of the total tumor composition. Immunohistochemistry staining revealed diffuse positive expression of STAT6 and CD34 in the tumor cells. Based on these findings, the final diagnosis was determined to be a fat-forming solitary fibrous tumor located in the retroperitoneum. It is important to consider other potential differential diagnoses, including angiomyolipoma, dedifferentiated liposarcoma, spindle cell lipoma, and atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Erratum to "The Possibility of Changing the Wettability of Material Surface by Adjusting Gravity".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.34133/2020/2640834.].

The Possibility of Changing the Wettability of Material Surface by Adjusting Gravity.

The contact angle, as a vital measured parameter of wettability of material surface, has long been in dispute whether it is affected by gravity. Herein, we measured the advancing and receding contact angles on extremely low contact angle hysteresis surfaces under different gravities (1-8G) and found that both of them decrease with the increase of the gravity. The underlying mechanism is revealed to be the contact angle hysteresis and the deformation of the liquid-vapor interface away from the solid surface caused by gradient distribution of the hydrostatic pressure. The real contact angle is not affected by gravity and cannot measured by an optical method. The measured apparent contact angles are angles of inclination of the liquid-vapor interface away from the solid surface. Furthermore, a new equation is proposed based on the balance of forces acting on the three-phase contact region, which quantitatively reveals the relation of the apparent contact angle with the interfacial tensions and gravity. This finding can provide new horizons for solving the debate on whether gravity affects the contact angle and may be useful for the accurate measurement of the contact angle and the development of a new contact angle measurement system.

miR-618 Inhibits Prostate Cancer Migration and Invasion by Targeting FOXP2.

miRNAs play critical role in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Here we studied the role of miR-618 in prostate cancer migration and invasion. miR-618 was downregulated in metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC), patients with low miR-618 had poor outcome. Overexpression of miR-618 inhibited migration and invasion and induced mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET). Conversely, knockdown of miR-618 promoted migration and invasion and induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). FOXP2 was the direct target of miR-618, and promoted TGF-ß expression, inhibition of TGF-ß reversed the effect of miR-618 knockdown. We further analyzed the correlation between miR-618 expression and FOXP2 in human prostate cancer tissues, and found there was a negative correlation between miR-618 expression and FOXP2 levels. In conclusion, we found miR-618 inhibited prostate cancer migration and invasion by targeting FOXP2 and inhibiting TGF-ß.

Measurement of contact angles in a simulated microgravity environment generated by a large gradient magnetic field.

The contact angle is an important parameter that is essential for studying interfacial phenomena. The contact angle can be measured using commercially available instruments. However, these well-developed instruments may not function or may be unsuitable for use in some special environments. A simulated microgravity generated by a large gradient magnetic field is such an environment in which the current measurement instruments cannot be installed. To measure the contact angle in this environment, new tools must be designed and manufactured to be compatible with the size and physical environment. In this study, we report the development and construction of a new setup that was specifically designed for use in a strong magnetic field to measure the contact angle between a levitated droplet and a solid surface. The application of the setup in a large gradient magnetic field was tested, and the contact angles were readily measured.

A strategy for selecting the pH of protein solutions to enhance crystallization.

The pH of a solution is an important parameter in crystallization that needs to be controlled in order to ensure success. The actual pH of the crystallization droplet is determined by the combined contribution of the buffers in the screening and protein solutions, although the contribution of the latter to the pH is often ignored. In this study, the effects of the buffer and protein solution pH values on the results of screening are systematically investigated. It was found that these parameters significantly affected the results and thus the following strategy for the selection of appropriate pH values is proposed: (i) when screening with only one protein solution, the pH should be as low, as high or as divergent from the pI as possible for a basic, acidic or neutral protein, respectively, within its stable pH range; (ii) when screening with two protein solutions, the pH values should be well separated from one another; and (iii) when multiple pH values are utilized, an even distribution of pH values is the best approach to increase the success rate of crystallization.

[Research and demonstration of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technology. II. Longitudinal evaluation on control effect].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of comprehensive measures of schistosomiasis prevention and control technique. METHODS: The comprehensive measures including forbidding grazing on marshlands, renovating latrines and supplying safe water, and health education were carried out in a demonstrative area, and the schistosomiasis endemic situation and other relative factors were investigated. RESULTS: After the control measures were carried out for 3 years, the prevalence of schistosomiasis in human decreased from 3.57% to 0.83%, and the infection rates of cattle decreased from 17.14% to 0. No infected Oncomelania snails were found on the marshlands in the demonstration area. CONCLUSION: The comprehensive measures aforementioned are effective in the control of schistosomiasis in Poyang Lake region.

Analysis of CCL5 expression in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma L428 cell line.

CCL5 is one of the chemoattractant cytokines involved in inflammatory observed in both diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL). However, the pathological effects of CCL5 remain unclear. To gain a better understanding of the role of CCL5 in CHL and DLBCL, we examined the expression of CCL5 in the CHL cell line L428 and the DLBCL cell lines Ly1 and Ly8, as well as its chemotactic effect on CD4+ T cells. CCL5 mRNA expression was detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Intracellular CCL5 protein expression was analyzed using confocal microscopy, and CCL5 protein secretion was detected by ELISA. The chemotactic function of CCL5 was assessed using a Transwell coculture system, and the number of migrated CD4+ T cells was counted. Moreover, the p-iкBα and p65 levels of NF-кB signaling molecules in these lymphoma cell lines were detected by Western blotting. The results showed that CCL5 mRNA and protein expression in the L428 cells was significantly higher than in Ly1 and Ly8 cells (p<0.05). L428 cells secreted more CCL5 than the Ly1 or Ly8 cells, and the secreted CCL5 was capable of inducing CD4+ T cell migration. The expression levels of the NF-кB transcription factors p65 and p-iкBα were examined in these lymphoma cells. L428, Ly1 and Ly8 cells expressed similar levels of p65, while p-iкBα expression was higher in the L428 cells than in the Ly1 or Ly8 cells, indicating that a high CCL5 expression may be related to the increased activity of the NF-кB signaling pathway in L428 cells.

Correlation of seven biological factors (Hsp90a, p53, MDM2, Bcl-2, Bax, Cytochrome C, and Cleaved caspase3) with clinical outcomes of ALK+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To explore correlation of seven apoptosis-related proteins (Hsp90a, p53, MDM2, Bcl-2, Bax, Cytochrome C, and Cleaved caspase3) with clinical outcomes of ALK+ anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL). METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence double staining methods, the expressions of these seven apoptosis-associated proteins were studied to clarify their relationship with clinical outcomes of 36 ALK+ and 25 ALK-systemic ALCL patients enrolled between 1996 and 2006. The relationship of these apoptosis-regulating proteins with NPM-ALK status was also evaluated with the tyrosine inhibitor herbimycin A (HA) in vitro by immunocytochemistry, Western blotting and flow cytometric assays. RESULTS: The presence of Hsp90α-, MDM2-, Bax-, Cytochrome C, and Cleaved caspase3-positive tumor cells was found significantly different in ALK+ and ALK-ALCLs, which was correlated with highly favorable clinical outcome. The Bcl-2- and p53-positive tumor cells were found in groups of patients with unfavorable prognosis. Inhibition of NPM-ALK by HA could reactivate the p53 protein and subsequent apoptosis-related proteins and therefore induced apoptosis in ALK+ ALCL cells. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that these seven proteins might be involved in apoptosis regulation and associated with clinical outcome of ALK+ systemic ALCLs. We also reveal a dynamic chain relation that NPM-ALK regulates p53 expression and subsequent apoptosis cascade in ALK+ ALCLs.

[Relationship between lymphocyte immunophenotypes and histologic subtypes of Hodgkin's lymphoma and its significance].

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between immunophenotype of the background lymphocytes and histological subtype of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and its significance. The relative protein expressions of background lymphocytes were detected in 37 HL specimens on the basis of instant-rapid MaxVision(TM) immunohistochemical method and assessed quantitatively with image analysis software IPP6.0. The adoptive antibody included anti-CD3/CD45RO, anti-CD20/CD79a, anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-GrB, anti-TIA-1. The results indicated that out of 37 cases 4 were NLPHL, 33 were CHL including 6 of MCHL, 14 of NSHL, 13 of LRHL. In addition, 10 cases (1 was NLPHL, 4 were NSHL, 5 were LRHL) were involved in the analysis of T/B ratios. The ratio of T/B in NLPHL was 0.28 +/- 0.07, in CHL 4.34 +/- 2.45 (p = 0.001), in CHL the ratio was LRHL > NSHL > MCHL (p = 0.649); CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio in NLPHL was 4.55 +/- 1.28, in CHL 4.10 +/- 1.50 (p = 0.574), in CHL it was MCHL > NSHL > LRHL (p = 0.037); GrB(+)/TIA-1(+) ratio in NLPHL was 0.71 +/- 0.57, in CHL 0.74 +/- 0.39, it was MCHL > NSHL > LRHL (p > 0.05). It is conduced that immune cell composition of the diagnostic HL lymph node represents the immune microenvironment. It is different between NLPHL and CHL in terms of the T- and B-lymphocyte distribution. NLPHL is of unique feature. The subtypes of CHL are of peculiar. The T/B ratio is in order as LRHL > NSHL > MCHL, but CD4(+)/CD8(+) and GrB(+)/TIA-1(+) ratios are in the opposite order. Combining with prognosis of subtypes of CHL i.e, LRHL > NSHL > MCHL, these data suggest that low ratio of T/B with high ratios of CD4(+)/CD8(+) and GrB(+)/TIA-1(+) may represent biological markers predicting an unfavorable outcome of CHL subtypes.

[Effects of two different antigen-loading methods on the activity of dendritic cell vaccine for colorectal carcinoma cell inhibition in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in the activity of dendritic cells (DCs) after carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) gene transfection mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus type2 (rAAV) and tumor cell lysate. METHODS: Immature DCs isolated from peripheral blood monocytes of HLA-A11-positive healthy volunteers were infected with the rAAV carrying CEA gene or loaded with tumor cell lysate. The surface markers of the DCs such as CD40, CD 1alpha, and CD86 were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the supernatants of DCs and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) released by the cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were determined by ELISA detection kit. The specific killing activity of CTL against LoVo cells was assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: The DCs following antigen loading with the two methods both highly expressed CD40, CD86 and IL-12, and induced specific CTL that specifically recognized and killed LoVo cells, but the killing effect resulting from rAAV infection of the DCs was much better than that induced by tumor cell lysate loading. CONCLUSION: Both methods of antigen loading can induce mature DCs from peripheral blood monocyte cells, but rAAV infection of the DCs can be more effective than tumor cells lysate loading. DCs infected with rAAV may have the potential to serve as an adjuvant immunotherapy for patients with colorectal carcinoma.

[Procyanidins inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of procyanidins on proliferation and apoptosis of a hormone-dependent prostate cancer cell line LNCaP in vitro. METHODS: LNCaP cells were cultured in the presence of procyanidin (at 100, 200 and 300 microg/ml, respectively). After 24, 48 and 72 h of culture, the morphological changes of LNCaP cells were examined, and the inhibition of cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay and cell apoptosis evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS: After procyanidins treatment, some LNCaP cells presented characteristic morphological changes. Procyanidins inhibited the growth of LNCaP cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry analysis showed that procyanidins induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells and the percentage of apoptotic cells increased with the concentration of procyanidins administered and also the elongation of treatment time. CONCLUSION: Procyanidins inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.