Hybrid eccrine gland and hair follicle hamartoma: a new entity of adnexal nevus.

Eccrine nevus shows increase in number or size of eccrine glands, whereas hair follicle nevus is composed of densely packed normal vellus hairs, and eccrine-pilar angiomatous nevus reveals increase of eccrine, pilar, and angiomatous structures. No case with increased number of both eccrine glands and hair follicles only in the dermis has been previously reported. A 10-month-old girl presented with cutaneous hamartoma with overlying skin hyperpigmentation on her left hypochondrium since 3 months of age, in whom the lesion was completely excised. Histopathology demonstrated evidently increased number of both eccrine glands and hair follicles in the dermis with reactive hyperplasia of collagen fibers. No recurrence occurred after the tumor was completely excised. A term "hybrid eccrine gland and hair follicle hamartoma" is proposed for this unique lesion.

Value of micro-CT for monitoring spinal microvascular changes after chronic spinal cord compression.

Neurological degeneration can occur after compression of the spinal cord. It is widely accepted that spinal cord compression leads to ischemic lesions and ultimately neurological dysfunction due to a narrowed spinal canal. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the pathogenesis of spinal cord compression injury is required to help develop effective clinical interventions. In the present study, we propose a new method of quantitative 3D micro-CT to observe microvascular events in a chronic spinal cord compression rat model. A total of 36 rats were divided into two groups: sham control group (n = 12) and compressive spinal cord injury group (n = 24). Rats were scarified at four weeks after surgery. In each group, CD34 micro-vessel immunohistochemical staining was performed in half of the animals, while micro-CT scanning was performed in the other half. Microvessel density (MVD) was measured after immunohistochemical staining, while the vascular index (VI) was measured in 3D micro-CT. In comparison with sham control, abnormal somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP) can be seen in all 24 cases of the compression group, and VI shows the amount of microvessels reduced consistently and significantly (p < 0.01). A significant correlation is also found between MVD and VI (r = 0.95, p < 0.01). These data suggest that quantitative 3D micro-CT is a sensitive and promising tool for investigating microvascular changes during chronic compressive spinal cord injury.

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of kidney with renal vein extension: an unusual case report and review of literature.

Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of kidney (MESTK) is a rare but distinct renal complex neoplasm composed of a mixture of mesenchymal and epithelial elements with characteristic ovarian-type stroma. Due to its relative rarity, little is known about the histogenesis and prognostic factors of this tumor. Although most reported cases display bland histological features and benign clinical course, a few cases of malignant MESTK have been described. We report an unusual case of MESTK in a 50-year-old female patient with renal venous involvement. Macroscopically, the tumor was solid and unencapsulated in the central region of left kidney. There was a polypoid mass with slender pedicle found to extend into the renal vein forming an intravenous tumor thrombus. Histologically, both renal and intravenous mass were composed of bland spindle-shaped cells and round dilated tubules lined by epithelium without any cytological atypia. The spindle cells were diffusely positive for smooth muscle actin and desmin, while tubules were positive for pan-cytokeratin (AE1/AE3). A diagnosis of MESTK with renal vein extension was made. The patient received no adjuvant treatment after radical nephrectomy. There was no sign of recurrence or metastasis of tumor found in a period of 16-month regular follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case of MESTK with renal vein extension, but lacking malignant histological appearance. Additional studies of MESTK with vein involvement will be needed to determine whether this imparts any adverse behavior, similar to other benign renal tumors with vascular involvement.

Imiquimod Increases Cutaneous VEGF Expression in Imiquimod-induced Psoriatic Mouse Model.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease of unknown aetiology but increasing evidence suggests that cutaneous angiogenesis plays an important role. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the pro-angiogenic cytokines which is related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Our study evaluated the influence of imiquimod (IMQ) on VEGF in IMQ-induced mouse model. Balb/c female mice (n=16) 8-12 weeks of age were randomly divided into an experimental group (5% IMQ cream) and the control group (Vaseline cream). Serum levels of circulating VEGF-A were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. VEGF protein expression in tested skin was measured by western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. The tested skin in the experimental group expressed higher levels of VEGF protein than in the control group (p=0.012); immunohistochemical staining revealed that the cells over-expressing VEGF localized predominantly in the epidermis and vascular endothelium. Circulating VEGF-A levels showed no significant difference between the experimental and control groups (p=0.445). The IMQ-induced mouse psoriatic model showed an upregulation of VEGF in the skin lesions mimicking human psoriasis but the circulating VEGF-A levels showed no difference. This model may be useful to investigate the role of angiogenesis in psoriasis.

EFEMP1 inhibits migration of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating MMP2 and MMP9 via ERK1/2 activity.

The role of epidermal growth factor-containing fibulin-like extracellular matrix protein 1 (EFEMP1) inhibiting migration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Expression of EFEMP1 in HCC cell lines were quantified by western blotting and real-time PCR. The role of EFEMP1 in HCC cell migration was explored in vitro via siRNA and adding purified EFEMP1 protein. The associated molecule expression was detected by western blotting after downregulation of EFEMP1 and also tested by immunohistochemistry. Eight pairs of HCC non-HCC liver samples and 215 HCC samples were subjected to immunohistochemistry. EFEMP1 was highly expressed in 7,721 and HepG2 HCC cell lines while HuH7 HCC cell line expressed the lowest level of EFEMP1 compared with the others. Downregulating EFEMP1 by siRNA markedly increased the migration ability of HCC cells while adding purified EFEMP1 protein inhibited HCC cell migration. Downregulation of EFEMP1 increased the expression of ERK1/2, MMP2 and MMP9. Furthermore, U0126 (a highly selective and potent inhibitor of pERK1/2) could abrogate the migration ability enhanced by siRNA. Accordingly, MMP2 and MMP9 were inversely expressed with EFEMP1 expression by immunohistochemistry. EFEMP1 downregulated in HCC tissues, and lower EFEMP1 expression was significantly associated with HCC patients with ascites (P=0.050), vascular invasion (P=0.044), poorer differentiation (P=0.002) and higher clinical stage (P=0.003).

Papular elastorrhexis: report of four cases and review of literature.

Papular elastorrhexis is a rare cutaneous disorder; only 27 cases have been reported before the present review. We added four new cases, and reviewed the published literature in both English and Chinese language. To data, 31 cases have been reported, in the range of 4-40 years (n = 31, median 20 years, mean age 19.5 years). Among them, only a familial cluster was reported, the ratio of male/female was 11:20. The age for the first detection of the lesions was from 3 to 35.5 years (n = 26, median age 14 years, mean age 15.3 years). The duration between the initial detection of the lesion to consultation was from 3 weeks to 20 years (n = 27, median time 1 year, mean time 3.1 years). Of the 26 patients with details, 9 detected their initial lesions in the first decade, 11 in the second decade, 5 in the third decade and only 1 older than 30 years. Twenty out of 31 patients showed nonfollicular papules while the rest had been not mentioned the condition. The lesions may distribute over trunk, limbs, and rarely on shoulders, scalp, face, mandibula, retroauricular region, occipitocervical, neck, armpits, thighs. Histopathological examination shows focal loss or decrease of elastic fibers, that may also appear thin and fragmented. There may be mild perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate in the dermis. The collagen bundles can be thickened and homogenized, or normal. No suggestive therapies were proposed at present.

Hypertensive vascular remodeling was inhibited by Xuezhikang through the regulation of Fibulin-3 and MMPs in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Fibulin-3, an extracellular glycoprotein, has been suggested as having functions in vessels. In hypertension, extracellular matrix, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) play important roles in cardiovascular remodeling. However, the role of Fibulin-3 as an extracellular glycoprotein in hypertensive vascular remodeling remains unclear. Our study was to determine whether Fibulin-3 and TIMPs/MMPs would affect vascular structure during hypertension and the treatment of Xuezhikang. Thirty spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) aged 8 weeks were randomized to three groups: SHRs control group (SHRs group, n=10), group treated with low dose Xuezhikang (XZK-L, 20 mg/kg/d, n=10) and group treated with high dose Xuezhikang (XZK-H, 200 mg/kg/d, n=10), the normal group was comprised of ten Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats of the same age. We showed that serum nitric oxide (NO) in control group was significantly lower than WKY group (P<0.05). Concomitantly, serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) was higher than WKY group (P<0.05). The treatment of high dose Xuezhikang significantly dicreased ox-LDL, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and Wall-to-lumen area ratio (W/L) of thoracic aorta (P<0.05), while serum NO was significantly increasing (P<0.05). Moreover, the expressions of Fibulin-3 and MMP-2, 9 at both protein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in thoracic aorta of SHRs group compared to WKY group by immunohistochemistry and western blotting (P<0.05). However, the levels of Fibulin-3 and MMP-2, 9 were significantly decreased in XZK-H group compared to control group (P<0.05). The level of TIMP-3 had no significance difference between SHRs and WKY groups (P>0.05). So the levels of Fibulin-3 and MMP-2, 9 in SHRs could be inhibited by Xuezhikang. Furthermore, a strong correlation in transcript expression was established between Fibulin-3, and MMP-2 (r=0.81, P<0.05) and MMP-9 (r=0.92, P<0.05) through immunohistochemistry. In summary, the overexpression of Fibulin-3 and MMP-2, 9 levels were associated with hypertension and vascular remodeling and inhibited by Xuezhikang. Fibulin-3 is a candidate in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular remodeling in hypertension.

Primary non-hyperlipidemia xanthoma of bone: a case report with review of the literature.

Primary xanthoma of bone is very rare. And its clinical, pathological and radiological presentation is different from other position. It is generally known that xanthoma of bone are usually are associated with lipid disorders. Non-hyperlipidemia xanthoma of bone are exceedingly unusual. In this report, we describe a rare case of primary bone xanthoma without hyperlipidemia and reviews the literature on primary bone xanthomas, focusing on those without hyperlipidemia. The difference of age between non-hyperlipidemia xanthoma of bone and other xanthoma of bone did not existed. But male patients outnumber female in non-hyperlipidemia xanthoma of bone. It often involve the irregular flat bones than the long bones. Inflammatory cells, cholesterol clefts and hemosiderin are rare compared with xanthoma with lipid disorders. At the same time, imaging manifestations is not steady, except for osteolytic sign. So the diagnosis usually depend on a pathological biopsy. Therefore we suggested that non-hyperlipidemia xanthoma of bone was a kind of independent disease. It should be belong to bone tumors of undefined neoplastic nature. Its etiology need more data collection and further analysis.

Sexual dysfunctions and psychological disorders associated with type IIIa chronic prostatitis: a clinical survey in China.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic prostatitis (CP) is a frequent prostate-related complaint, impacts negatively on quality of life and is mostly of unclear etiology. Increasing attention has been paid to the prevalence of sexual dysfunctions in CP patients; however, the impact of specific types of CP and the correlation of sexual dysfunctions with psychological disorders associated with CP are not well understood. Type IIIa CP is characterized by chronic pelvic pain, urination symptoms and white blood cells in expressed prostatic secretion, but free of bacterial infection. METHODS: A population of 600 type IIIa CP patients were randomly selected and 40 normal man were included as the control group. Queries were conducted by urologists. The National Institute of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI), the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) and the Symptom Checklist 90-R were used to evaluate the symptoms and severity of prostatitis, erectile dysfunctions and psychological problems, respectively. Scores of ejaculatory pain and premature ejaculation were also collected. RESULTS: Our study revealed that sexual dysfunctions are frequently associated with this specific type of CP. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and ejaculatory pain was 19, 30 and 30 %, respectively. A variety of psychological problems exist among type IIIa CP patients, including depression, anxiety, somatization, obsessive-compulsive and interpersonal sensitivity. In particular, the severity of erectile dysfunctions, but not premature ejaculation and ejaculatory pain, correlated significantly with depression and anxiety. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that a moderate level of sexual dysfunctions exists among the type IIIa CP patients, and highlight the association of depression and anxiety with erectile dysfunction in CP patients, suggestting that special attention should be paid to these psychological issues in clinical treatments of the prostatitis symptoms and the associated erectile dysfunctions.