Fast Positive Feedback Between the Adrenocortical Stress Response and a Brain Mechanism Involved in Aggressive Behavior.

Aggressive behavior induces an adrenocortical stress response, and sudden stressors often precipitate violent behavior. Experiments in rats revealed a fast, mutual, positive feedback between the adrenocortical stress response and a brain mechanism controlling aggression. Stimulation of the aggressive area in the hypothalamus rapidly activated the adrenocortical response, even in the absence of an opponent and fighting. Hypothalamic aggression, in turn, was rapidly facilitated by a corticosterone injection in rats in which the natural adrenocortical stress response was prevented by adrenalectomy. The rapidity of both effects points to a fast, mutual, positive feedback of the controlling mechanisms within the time frame of a single conflict. Such a mutual facilitation may contribute to the precipitation and escalation of violent behavior under stressful conditions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detection of colorectal adenoma and cancer based on transthyretin and C3a-desArg serum levels

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, and it develops from benign colorectal adenomas in over 95% of patients. Early detection of these cancer precursors by screening tests and their removal can potentially eradicate more than 95% of colorectal cancers before they develop. To discover sensitive and specific biomarkers for improvement of pre‐clinical diagnosis of colorectal adenoma and cancer, we analysed in two independent studies (n = 87 and n = 83 patients) serum samples from colorectal cancer (stage III), colorectal adenoma and control patients using SELDI‐TOF‐MS. Extensive statistical analysis was performed to establish homogeneous patient groups based on their clinical data. Two biomarkers that were each able to distinguish control patients from either colorectal adenoma or colorectal cancer patients (p<0.001) were identified as transthyretin (pre‐albumin) and C3a‐desArg by MS/MS and were further validated by antibody‐based assays (radial immunodiffusion, ELISA). A combination of both proteins clearly indicated the presence of colorectal adenoma or carcinoma. Using a cut‐off of <0.225 g/L for transthyretin and >1974 ng/mL for C3a‐desArg, we found a sensitivity and specificity for colorectal adenoma of 96% and 70%, respectively.     

腮腺良恶性肿瘤的磁共振表现分析

目的:分析腮腺良恶性肿瘤的MRI图像特点,提高腮腺肿瘤的术前诊断率。方法:回顾性分析我院34例腮腺肿瘤MRI图像及临床特点。包括肿瘤部位、形态、边缘,肿瘤的信号特点及强化方式,与周围结构的关系。结果:34个病例中,32例良性,2例恶性。良性肿瘤:混合瘤、腺淋巴瘤、表皮样囊肿、淋巴上皮囊肿;恶性肿瘤:淋巴上皮瘤样癌和腺泡细胞癌。多形性腺瘤共13例,10例浅叶,3例深叶,T2WI序列上高信号9例,高低混杂信号4例。7例明显强化,4例轻度强化,1例环形强化,1例未见明显强化;腺淋巴瘤共13例,均位于腮腺深叶,腮腺的下极。T2WI序列上稍高信号7例,等信号1例,高低混杂信号5例。强化方式13例均为轻度强化;表皮样囊肿4例,3例腮腺表面,1例腮腺浅叶。T2WI高信号,2例不强化,2例环形强化;淋巴上皮囊肿2例,腮腺浅叶。T2WI高信号,1例不强化,1例环形强化;淋巴上皮瘤样癌1例,腮腺深叶,T2WI等信号,轻度强化。腺泡细胞癌1例,腮腺深叶,T2WI混杂信号,轻度强化。结论:磁共振鉴别腮腺良恶性肿瘤有困难,但对多形性腺瘤及腺淋巴瘤诊断影像表现有特异性。     

The Behavior of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Inhibitors in Colorectal Cancer

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in the degradation of extracellular matrix components crucial for tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. MMPs are controlled by natural inhibitors called tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). We and others have demonstrated that MMPs and TIMPs are especially important in the process of tumor invasion, progression and the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). It has been proposed that MMPs and TIMPs might play a part not only in tumor invasion and initiation of metastasis but also in carcinogenesis from colorectal adenomas. Several recent studies demonstrated that high preoperative serum or plasma MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 antigen levels are strong predictive factors for poor prognosis in patients with CRC and their determination might be useful for identification of patients with higher risk for cancer recurrence. MMP-9 and TIMP-1 have significant potential tumor marker impact in CRC. Their diagnostic sensitivity is consistently higher than those of conventional biomarkers. The pharmacological targeting of CRC by the development of a new generation of selective inhibitors of MMPs, that is highly specific for certain MMPs, is a promising and challenging area for the future.     

肝腺瘤的CT诊断和鉴别诊断

目的：观察肝腺瘤的CT表现,总结其具有诊断意义的影像学特征。方法：分析经病理证实的7例肝腺瘤CT图像．对病灶的平扫及增强扫描进行观察。结果：平扫：7例均为单发肿块,直径3．5—7．5cm,平均5．5cm。3例见稍低密度包膜影．3例见不完整包膜。3例表现稍低密度背景下间杂片状高密度出血灶。增强扫描：动脉期5个病灶中度强化,门脉期持续强化．延迟期呈等或略高密度,可见假包膜。2例呈类似肝癌的速升速降型强化,但其强化程度不如肝癌迅速。平扫时病灶内高密度区域．增强扫描三期均无明显强化。包膜的强化大部呈延时强化的趋势。结论：肝腺瘤在CT扫描中有一定特征。准确把握其影像学表现,可以大大提高诊断的准确率。     

The Adaptive Immune Landscape of the Colorectal Adenoma–Carcinoma Sequence

Background. The tumor immune microenvironment exerts a pivotal influence in tumor initiation and progression. The aim of this study was to analyze the immune context of sporadic and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) lesions along the colorectal adenoma–carcinoma sequence (ACS). Methods. We analyzed immune cell counts (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, Foxp3+, and CD57+), tumor mutation burden (TMB), MHC-I expression and PD-L1 expression of 59 FAP and 74 sporadic colorectal lesions, encompassing adenomas with low-grade dysplasia (LGD) (30 FAP; 30 sporadic), adenomas with high-grade dysplasia (22 FAP; 30 sporadic), and invasive adenocarcinomas (7 FAP; 14 sporadic). Results. The sporadic colorectal ACS was characterized by (1) a stepwise decrease in immune cell counts, (2) an increase in TMB and MHC-I expression, and (3) a lower PD-L1 expression. In FAP lesions, we observed the same patterns, except for an increase in TMB along the ACS. FAP LGD lesions harbored lower Foxp3+ T cell counts than sporadic LGD lesions. A decrease in PD-L1 expression occurred earlier in FAP lesions compared to sporadic ones. Conclusions. The colorectal ACS is characterized by a progressive loss of adaptive immune infiltrate and by the establishment of a progressively immune cold microenvironment. These changes do not appear to be related with the loss of immunogenicity of tumor cells, or to the onset of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.     

15例垂体巨大腺瘤患者调强放射治疗效果分析

目的分析调强放射治疗技术治疗垂体巨大腺瘤的临床实践经验,以期为临床诊疗提供借鉴。方法回顾性分析2012年10月至2018年10月于北京协和医院放射治疗科接受直线加速器6 MV-X线调强放射治疗(56～60 Gy/28～30次,5次/周)的垂体巨大腺瘤患者资料,以肿瘤生长控制率、激素缓解率、放射治疗相关并发症为指标评价患者的治疗效果。结果共15例符合纳入标准的患者入选本研究,其中男性8例,女性7例;中位年龄为32岁。肿瘤生长控制率为93.3%(11例部分缓解,3例肿瘤稳定,1例发展为垂体癌);7例功能性垂体巨大腺瘤患者中,1例激素水平完全缓解,2例部分缓解。4例患者采用调强放射治疗联合替莫唑胺治疗,均达到肿瘤部分缓解(中位缓解时间为5个月),缓解率及缓解时间均优于未使用替莫唑胺者。放射治疗后随访期内,4例患者出现新发垂体功能受损,未出现新发或进一步加重的视力减退及视野受损。结论调强放射治疗是垂体巨大腺瘤患者有效的治疗方法,与替莫唑胺联合应用可加快肿瘤体积缩小、缓解占位效应。     

电子显微镜在疑难病例病理诊断中的应用

目的：通过对4例疑难病例的诊断,进一步探讨电镜在疑难病例诊断中的作用及意义。方法：采用电镜技术对4例疑难病例进行超微结构观察。结果：Merkel细胞癌含有许多神经内分泌颗粒,Wilson’s病肝细胞溶酶体吞噬较多铜颗粒;毛细胞白血病的细胞表面有许多长突起,甲状腺玻璃样小粱状腺瘤细胞胞质内有成束中间丝等。结论：电镜对疑难病例的确诊具有重要价值。     

Differential Expression of Peroxisomal Proteins in Distinct Types of Parotid Gland Tumors

Salivary gland cancers are rare but aggressive tumors that have poor prognosis and lack effective cure. Of those, parotid tumors constitute the majority. Functioning as metabolic machinery contributing to cellular redox balance, peroxisomes have emerged as crucial players in tumorigenesis. Studies on murine and human cells have examined the role of peroxisomes in carcinogenesis with conflicting results. These studies either examined the consequences of altered peroxisomal proliferators or compared their expression in healthy and neoplastic tissues. None, however, examined such differences exclusively in human parotid tissue or extended comparison to peroxisomal proteins and their associated gene expressions. Therefore, we examined differences in peroxisomal dynamics in parotid tumors of different morphologies. Using immunofluorescence and quantitative PCR, we compared the expression levels of key peroxisomal enzymes and proliferators in healthy and neoplastic parotid tissue samples. Three parotid tumor subtypes were examined: pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma and acinic cell carcinoma. We observed higher expression of peroxisomal matrix proteins in neoplastic samples with exceptional down regulation of certain enzymes; however, the degree of expression varied between tumor subtypes. Our findings confirm previous experimental results on other organ tissues and suggest peroxisomes as possible therapeutic targets or markers in all or certain subtypes of parotid neoplasms.