弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤细胞耐药的研究进展

弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(DLBCL)化疗耐药的主要原因是细胞耐药.研究表明DLBCL细胞耐药与耐药基因及其耐药相关蛋白、细胞因子、黏附分子有关,并在造血微环境中通过信号转导介导细胞耐药.     

酵母细胞的絮凝

利用自制的含硼酸盐的复合絮凝剂Ｆ１絮凝假丝酵母Ｙ－１０，絮凝效果优于其它絮凝剂，考察了环境因素对絮凝的影响，确定最佳絮凝条件为ＰＨ＝８．１，温度２５℃，Ｆ１加入量１６．６ｇ／Ｌ，并对絮凝机理和絮凝动力学进行了探讨。     

黏蛋白1基因磁转染树突状细胞诱导细胞毒性T细胞抗膀胱肿瘤免疫效应的研究

目的:探讨黏蛋白1(mucins 1,MUC1)基因磁转染体外人树突状细胞(dendritic cell,DC)的可行性,观察其诱导的特异性抗MUC1膀胱癌CTL的免疫效应.方法:以葡聚糖磁性纳米颗粒(DMN)作为载体,在多聚赖氨酸(PLL)的辅助下,通过静电作用结合MUC1基因的真核表达载体pEGFP-C1-MUC1,在钕-铁-硼稀土强磁块的磁场作用下转染DC,荧光显微镜下观察及流式细胞术检测转染效率,并用RT-PCR法检测转基因DC中MUC1基因的表达;再将转染MUC1基因的DC与自体T细胞共培养,并分别用乳酸脱氢酶释放法检测所致敏的细胞毒性T淋巴细胞(cytotoxic lymphocyte,CTL)对MUCI特异性抗膀胱癌(膀胱肿瘤BIU87细胞系)的杀伤活性,用透射电镜观察CTL诱导靶细胞凋亡情况;ELISA法测定MUC1基因修饰后的DC刺激自体T细胞分泌IFN-γ的能力.结果:pEGFP-C1-MUC1转染效率为10%左右,荧光显微镜下可观察到明显绿色荧光蛋白的表达,RT-PCR法可检测到MUC1条带,转染MUC1基因的DC与自体T细胞混合培养后能诱导出MUC1特异性的CTL,对BIU87细胞的杀伤实验表明T-DC-MUC1的杀伤活性显著高于对照组T-DC-pEGFP-C1和T-DC诱导的CTL(P均<0.05);在透射电镜下也可观察到部分BIU87膀胱肿瘤细胞出现了细胞核核仁消失,染色质浓集于核膜周围等早期凋亡表现;基因修饰后的DC能刺激自体T细胞分泌高水平的IFN-γ,明显高于未转染的DC(P<0.05).结论:葡聚糖磁性纳米颗粒在同定磁场的作用下成功将MUC1基因转入DC,并可有效诱导出特异性抗MUC1膀胱癌的细胞毒性T细胞.     

纳米SiO2颗粒在HepG2细胞中的分布及其细胞毒性

目的:检测纳米SiO2颗粒作用于HepG2细胞后纳米颗粒的细胞摄取、分布情况及颗粒对细胞的毒性作用,初步探讨纳米颗粒的摄取、分布与细胞毒性的关系.方法:采用透射电镜(TEM)及动态光散射法检测纳米SiO2颗粒的表征;纳米SiO2颗粒作用HepG2细胞后,用荧光显微镜及TEM观察纳米SiO2颗粒的细胞摄取及细胞内分布情况;不同浓度纳米SiO2颗粒(0、25、50、100 及200 mg·L-1)作用于HepG2细胞24 h后,采用MTT法检测细胞存活率,用Rhodamine123标记流式细胞术检测线粒体膜电位变化.结果:TEM结果显示,纳米SiO2颗粒呈球形,分散性好,大小均一.动态光散射法结果显示,纳米SiO2颗粒在无血清DMEM中粒径约为94 nm,分散性较好.纳米SiO2颗粒作用于HepG2细胞3 h即可进入细胞;作用24 h后,可以单一颗粒或成簇的形态分散在胞质内,并在线粒体等细胞器内沉积;不同浓度纳米SiO2颗粒作用于细胞24 h后,各组细胞存活率及线粒体膜电位较对照组均有显著下降(P＜0.05),且随着剂量增加细胞存活率和线粒体膜电位降低.结论:纳米SiO2颗粒进入细胞并在细胞器中沉积,可导致线粒体等细胞器的损伤,进而产生细胞毒性作用,抑制细胞增殖.     

树突状细胞联合CIK细胞应用于晚期恶性实体瘤治疗的临床疗效观察

Objective: The aim of this study was to observe the therapeutic effect of cytokine induced killer (CIK) cells in combination with dendritic cells (DCs) on advanced solid carcinoma patients. Methods: Isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 110 advanced solid tumor patients. Added granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF),tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) to adherent cells to induce DCs, and sensitized DCs with antigens of autologous tumor cells or extrinsic tumor cell lines. Cultured suspending cells with interferon-γ(IFN-y), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and CD3 monoclonal antibody (CD3 McAb) to prepare CIK cells, then co-cultured with DCs. After analyzing the phenotype and checking tumor markers and immune function, the autologous CIK cells and DCs were transfused into the cancer patients.Results: Forty-two patients with measurable nidus, 2 achieved complete remission (CR), 9 partial remission (PR) and 15 stable disease (SD), while 37 patients with immeasurable nidus, 25 had efficient response. The tumor markers and immune function both improved significantly compared with those before treatment. Conclusion: DCs and CIK cells combinational treatment is safe and effective on advanced solid carcinoma and provide a new and efficacious immunity therapeutic methods for the cancer patients.     

涎腺嗜酸细胞腺瘤和嗜酸细胞腺癌的临床病理分析

目的:探讨涎腺嗜酸细胞肿瘤的临床病理特征、鉴别诊断、治疗和预后.方法:对23例嗜酸细胞腺瘤、15例嗜酸细胞腺癌的临床特点、病理表现及组织化学、免疫组织化学和电子显微镜观察结果进行观察、分析,同时对所有病例进行随访,分析患者的治疗和预后.结果:嗜酸细胞腺瘤多发生于腮腺(95.6%),23例患者经局部切除后均无复发,诊断主要依赖组织病理学检查,即肿瘤由嗜酸细胞构成,包膜完整.嗜酸细胞腺癌亦为腮腺多发,是一种恶性程度较高的涎腺肿瘤,局部复发(50%)、区域淋巴结转移(50%)和远处转移率(28.6%)都较高,根治性手术是首选治疗方案,该肿瘤的诊断除依据常规病理特点外,组织化学、免疫组织化学和电子显微镜观察均可证明嗜酸细胞胞浆颗粒为大量线粒体,可辅助诊断,其中免疫组织化学方法因特异性强、简单易行更加适用.结论:涎腺嗜酸细胞肿瘤较少见,嗜酸细胞腺瘤预后较好,肿瘤切除后很少复发;嗜酸细胞腺癌预后差,根治性手术是首选治疗方案,肿瘤诊断主要依靠组织病理学检查,线粒体免疫组织化学有助于诊断和鉴别诊断.     

细胞黏附分子SLeX和CD24在喉鳞状细胞癌组织中的表达

目的:探讨细胞黏附分子唾液酸化Lewis-X抗原(SLeX)和CD24在喉鳞状细胞癌组织中的表达,阐明其在喉鳞状细胞癌发生发展中的作用.方法:采用免疫组织化学方法分别检测42例喉鳞状细胞癌患者的42个原发灶、24个相应癌旁组织及20例睡眠呼吸暂停低通气综合征(OSAHS)手术患者的咽部正常黏膜组织中SLeX和CD24的表达情况.结果:喉癌组织、癌旁组织及对照正常黏膜组织中SLeX阳性表达率分别为71.4%、37.5%和30.0%;强阳性表达率分别为50.0%、8.3%和5.0%.CD24的阳性表达率分别为64.3%、33.3%和25.0%;强阳性表达率分别为35.7%、4.2%和0.0%.3组间两两比较,喉癌组织与癌旁组织、正常黏膜组织阳性表达率差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01);癌旁组织与正常黏膜组织阳性表达率差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).SLeX、CD24强阳性表达与颈部淋巴结转移情况、临床分期及组织病理学分级相关(P<0.05).SleX和CD24在喉癌组织中的阳性率呈显著正相关关系(r=0.695,P<0.05).结论:SLeX及CD24蛋白表达与喉鳞状细胞癌的发生发展密切相关,其检测对喉癌的生物治疗和预测预后具有一定的临床意义.     

Sf9细胞的培养工艺

对Ｓｆ９细胞的静止培养工艺进行了研究，首先对Ｓｆ９细胞进行环境ｐＨ值由低到高的驯化，发现该细胞对于ｐＨ值变化的适应能力十分有限，在初始ｐＨ值为７．０的培养液中即不能生长，而且在细胞生长过程中培养液的ｐＨ值会略有升高，其次进行了培养液血清浓度由高到低的驯化，结果表明该细胞对于低血清环境的适应性很强，培养液的血清浓度至２％时细胞仍可生长，最后，研究了初始接种密度对Ｓｆ９细胞生长的影响，发现在其传代过程     

小儿急性淋巴细胞白血病血清CD3+ CD4- CD8- T细胞和T细胞亚群的变化及其临床意义

目的 探讨小儿急性淋巴细胞白血病(ALL)外周血CD3+ CD4- CD8- T细胞(DNT细胞)及T淋巴细胞亚群的变化及意义.方法 采用免疫荧光流式细胞术检测30例ALL患儿及24例健康小儿外周血DNT细胞及T淋巴细胞亚群CD3+ T细胞、CD3+ CD4+ T细胞及CD3+ CD8+ T细胞水平.结果 DNT细胞、CD3+ T细胞、CD3+ CD4+ T细胞百分比均明显低于对照组,分别为(4.93±3.75)%比(8.19±3.21)%(t=3.4,P<0.01):(49.99 ±11.70)%比(64.13 ±11.39)%(t=4.1,P<0.01);(28.30 ±7.56)%比(34.61 ±6.43)%(t=3.2,P<0.01);而CD3+ CD8+ T细胞百分比明显高于对照组,为(31.19±9.89)%比(24.33 ±4.24)%(t=3.1,P<0.01).结论 ALL患儿外周血DNT细胞及T亚群的变化提示患儿体内存在免疫功能紊乱,这可能与ALL的发病机制有关.     

三氧化二砷抑制淋巴瘤细胞株血管内皮生长因子表达的研究

目的 探讨三氧化二砷(ATO)对人类淋巴瘤细胞株内血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达的影响.方法 应用实时荧光定量聚合酶链(Real-time PCR)技术及酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)法检测ATO作用前后淋巴瘤细胞株Raji及Jurkat内VEGF基因及其蛋白表达量的变化.结果 在ATO诱导淋巴瘤细胞株凋亡过程中,两种细胞未经ATO处理前均高表达VEGF mRNA(Raji加药2 μmol/L 12 h △△ Ct值0.75±0.15,Jurkat加药3.5 μmol/L 72 h △△ Ct值1.67±0.13)及VEGF蛋白(加药12 h,Raji198.38±4.37;Jurkat 563.11±3.81),且Jurkat细胞较Raji细胞的VEGF蛋白的表达量高;经ATO作用24、48、72 h后VEGF的mRNA表达量均较加药前明显减少(加药72 h △△Ct值,Raji:8.95±0.38;Jurkat:9.09±0.16),差异有统计学意义(t=3.54,P<0.01;t=3.65,P<0.01);同时蛋白表达量也较加药前明显减少(加药72 h,Raji:23.55±2.06;Jurkat:57.11±3.88),差异有统计学意义(t=2.48,P<0.05;t=2.59,P<0.05),且两者与药物作用时间明显相关,各时间点之间蛋白表达量差异均有统计学意义(F=2.47,P<0.05;F=2.50,P<0.05).结论 ATO通过阻断淋巴瘤细胞生长所需的血管条件,从而抑制淋巴瘤细胞的增殖.     

难治性淋巴瘤患者外周血T淋巴细胞亚群与自然杀伤细胞活性的检测及其临床意义

目的 探讨外周血T淋巴细胞亚群及自然杀伤(NK)细胞活性水平与难治性淋巴瘤的相关性.方法 采用流式细胞术(FCM)检测60例初治淋巴瘤患者化疗前外周血T淋巴细胞亚群水平与NK细胞的活性,化疗后随访分为难治组30例、有效组30例,以20名健康者为健康对照组.结果 淋巴瘤患者组化疗前外周血CD+4、CD+4/CD+8、NK细胞数比健康对照组低(30.17±8.63与46.52±1.39,t=12.218,P＜0.05;0.86±0.45与1.64±0.05,t=11.225,P＜0.05;12.39±7.08与19.29±0.84,t=6.365,P＜0.05),CD+3、CD+8细胞数比健康对照组高(76.14±10.71与70.48±1.44,t=-3.439,P＜0.05;40.28±14.03与28.35±0.73,t=-5.625,P＜0.05).难治组化疗前外周血CD+4、CD+4/CD+8、NK细胞数比有效组低(27.70±7.81与33.13±8.82,t=2.163,P=0.036;0.67±0.27与1.10±0.52,t=3.272,P=0.003;9.87±6.60与15.40±6.58,t=2.771,P=0.008),而CD+3、CD+8细胞数比有效组高(79.67±8.18与71.91±12.00,t=-2.540,P=0.015;44.70±13.99与34.98±12.41,t=-2.416,P=0.020).结论 淋巴瘤初治患者化疗前外周血T淋巴细胞亚群水平及NK细胞活性的检测,对判断、预测容易转归为难治的患者可能有一定的参考价值.     

结肠癌细胞系SW480对不同化疗药物化疗敏感性的研究

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the sensitivity of chemotherapeutic agents 5-FU, cisplatin (DDP) or TAXOL on colon cancer cell line SW480 with different methods, to find out the best examine time period for further study of chemotherapeutic sensitivities. Methods:The SW480 cell was treated with 5-FU (200 μg/mL), DDP(150 μg/mL) or TAXOL (50 μg/mL) respectively for 4 h, 8 h or 12 h. MTT assay was used to examine the cell survival rate, Annexin V/PI assay was used to analysis the apoptosis rate, Western Blot assay was applied to examine the expression of apoptotic protein.Results:(1) Results of MTT assay showed that the survival rate of SW480 cells at 4h, 8 h or 12 h was:5-FU (200 μg/mL)96.0% ± 8.2%, 85.4% ± 7.8%, 74.4% ± 10.2% (P < 0.05); DDP (150 μg/mL) 99.0% ± 6.4%, 88.7% ± 4.7% (P < 0.05), 46.9%± 2.6% (P < 0.01); TAXOL (50 μg/mL) 51.5% ± 4.2% (P < 0.01), 31.9% ± 3.1%, 17.6% ± 2.3%, or blank group 97.2% ± 5.8%,98.7% ± 7.2%, 97.5% ± 7.5% respectively. (2) The apoptosis rate of cancer cells at 4 h, 8 h or 12 h was:control group:3.4%± 0.2%, 6.2% ± 0.4%, 7.0% ± 0.5%; 5-FU (200 μg/mL) 4.0% ± 0.3%, 4.8% ± 0.4%, 7.7% ± 0.7%; DDP (150 μg/mL) 8.5%± 0.9%, 18.6% ± 1.6% (P < 0.05), 67.0% ± 6.2% (P < 0.01); or TAXOL (50 μg/mL) 32.0% ± 5.2% (P < 0.01), 76.6% ± 8.5%,94.0% ± 8.2%, respectively. (3) Western Blot assay showed that the expression of apoptosis associated protein. PARP, Xlinked inhibitor of apoptasis (XIAP), Caspase-9 and Bcl-xL were changed. Conclusion:The sensitivity of chemotherapy could be assessed by MTT assay, Annexin V/PI assay and Western Blot. The best examine time of the three chemotherapuc agents was 5-FU (200 μg/mL):> 12 h, DDP(150 μg/mL):8-12h, or TAXOL (50 μg/mL):< 4 h.     

白藜芦醇诱导白血病Molt-4细胞凋亡及对WAVE1基因表达的影响

目的 探讨白藜芦醇诱导人类急性淋巴细胞白血病Molt-4细胞凋亡的作用机制.方法 噻唑蓝比色法(MTF)测定细胞生长抑制率;流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布及凋亡率;半定量反转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)法检测WAVE1基因的表达.结果 MTT结果显示:12.5、25.0、50.0、100.0、200.0 μmol/L的白藜芦醇作用于Moh-4细胞24、48、72 h后,细胞的最大抑制率分别达到29.32%、36.11%、53.92%、62.50%、74.98%,并呈时间-剂量依赖性(F=33.614,P<0.05);流式细胞术检测结果显示:与对照组相比,50.0、100.0 μmol/L白藜芦醇作用于Molt-4细胞48 h后,S期细胞比例由42.2%分别上升为68.6%和78.1%,细胞发生了S期阻滞(F=19.453,P<0.01);PCR结果显示:50.0、100.0 μmol/L的白藜芦醇处理Molt-4细胞48 h后,WAVE1/GAPDH比值分别为0.356±0.03、0.382±0.05,与对照组(0.586±0.06)比较,差异有统计学意义(F=8.950,P<0.01).结论 白藜芦醇可诱导Moh-4细胞发生凋亡,其作用机制可能与下调WAVE1基因表达有关.     

Evidence of significant apoptosis in poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Following breast-conserving surgery for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), the presence of comedo necrosis reportedly predicts for higher rates of post-operative recurrence. To examine the role of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in the aetiology of the cell death described as comedo necrosis, we studied 58 DCIS samples, using light microscopy, for morphological evidence of apoptotic cell death. The percentage of apoptotic cells (apoptotic index, AI) was compared between DCIS with and without evidence of 'comedo necrosis' and related to the immunohistochemical expression of the anti-apoptosis gene bcl-2, mitotic index (MI), the cellular proliferation antigen Ki67, nuclear grade and oestrogen receptor (ER) status. AI was significantly higher in DCIS samples displaying high-grade comedo necrosis than in low-grade non-comedo samples: median AI = 1.60% (range 0.84-2.89%) and 0.45% (0.1-1.31%) respectively (P < 0.001). Increasing nuclear grade correlated positively with AI (P < 0.001) and negatively with bcl-2 expression (P = 0.003). Bcl-2 correlated negatively with AI (P = 0.019) and strongly with ER immunoreactivity (P < 0.001). Cellular proliferation markers (MI and Ki67 immunostaining) correlated strongly with AI and were higher in comedo lesions and tumours of high nuclear grade (P < 0.001 in all cases). Thus, apoptosis contributes significantly to the cell death described in ER-negative, high-grade DCIS in which a high proliferative rate is associated with a high apoptotic rate. It is likely that dysregulation of proliferation/apoptosis control mechanisms accounts for the more malignant features typical of ER negative comedo DCIS.     

复方参鹿颗粒干预肾阳虚型骨髓增生异常综合征造血调控的临床观察

目的 评判复方参鹿颗粒对肾阳虚型骨髓增生异常综合征(MDS)(难治性贫血/难治性血细胞减少伴多系造血异常)(RA/RCMD)造血调控情况.方法 30例MDS-RA/RCMD患者随机分成复方参鹿颗粒组(简称参鹿组)(15例)和十一酸睾酮组(15例),测评治疗前后外周血象、T细胞亚群+自然杀伤(NK)细胞、骨髓细胞免疫表型.结果 参鹿组与治疗前相比,红细胞、血色素、血小板有明显上升,治疗前分别为(2.39±0.99)×1012/L、(84.47±28.68)g/L、(81.13±96.85)×109/L,治疗后分别为(2.80±0.98)×1012/L、(94.87±25.63)g/L、(98.67±107.9)×109/L,差异均有统计学意义(t=4.0359、t=2.7009、t=2.2573,均P<0.05),十一酸睾酮组仅有血红蛋白数量上升,治疗前为(71.93±27.53)g/L,治疗后为(80.07±26.03)g/L,差异有统计学意义(t=2.3125,P=0.0365);参鹿组治疗后CD+4、CD+8、CD+4/CD+8、NK细胞均达到或接近正常值,分别为(37.9±5.9)%、(24.0±5.8)%、1.75±0.83、(13.0±6.9)%,与治疗前的(29.3±11.7)%、(29.6±5.8)%、1.12±0.59、(8.8±5.7)%相比差异有统计学意义(t=2.6194、t=2.6595、t=2.6581、t=2.2288,均P<0.05),十一酸睾酮组治疗后仅CD+8、CD+4/CD+8接近正常值,分别为(22.1±7.5)%、1.50±0.74,与治疗前(26.6±7.5)%、1.18±0.55相比差异有统计学意义(t=2.2377,P=0.0420;t=2.9352,P=0.0109),治疗后,参鹿组CD+4表达率为(37.9±5.9)%,十一酸睾酮组为(30.5±12.6)%,差异有统计学意义(t=2.1738,P=0.0474);参鹿组对骨髓细胞CD+13、CD+33、CD+34、CD+64、CD+117的异常阳性表达调控能力强于安雄组(前三者u=2.76、u=3.39、u=2.85,均P<0.01,后两者u=2.17、u=2.46,均P<0.05).结论 复方参鹿颗粒能有效调控肾阳虚型MDS-RA/RCMD正常造血功能.     

非清髓性异基因造血干细胞移植后早期自然杀伤细胞的重建

目的 研究非清髓性异基因造血干细胞移植(NAST)后早期自然杀伤(NK)细胞的重建情况.方法 分别用流式细胞术直接免疫荧光法、T细胞活化实验、四甲基偶氮唑蓝比色(MTT)法检测10例NAST后白血病患者及10位健康对照者细胞表面标志及体外免疫功能.结果 移植后28～35 d,患者外周血CD+3、CD+4细胞比例降低,分别为(2.03±15.60)%和(22.69±12.29)%,CD+8细胞比例正常或增高,平均为(29.26±8.99)%;T细胞对有丝分裂原反应减低,其增殖反应刺激指数为94.60±44.87;NK细胞比例在正常范围或增高,为(18.77±9.11)%;NK细胞表面IL-2R表达阳性率增高,平均为(3.71±2.23)%,和正常对照组的(2.05±0.94)%相比差异有统计学意义(t=2.116,P=0.044);部分患者NK细胞活性明显增强,移植组与健康对照组分别为(25.30±12.39)%和(16.60±3.53)%(t=2.135,P=0.047).结论 NK细胞在NAST后早期即恢复,当特异性免疫功能仍低下时,它可能在机体抗感染和抗肿瘤中发挥着重要作用.     

β-羟基异戊酰紫草素二甲醚衍生物对白血病细胞株THP-1的作用

目的 选用人类单核细胞白血病细胞株THP-1,体外加入紫草素二甲醚衍生物5,8-二甲基-2-β-羟基异戊酰紫草素(SK36),研究其在THP-1细胞株增殖和凋亡中的作用,并对其作用机制进行初步探讨.方法 CCK法检测SK36对THP-1细胞的增殖抑制作用;流式细胞术检测细胞早期凋亡标记Annexin V/PI及细胞凋亡通路Caspase活性;激光共聚焦显微镜观察细胞凋亡和坏死.结果 流式细胞术检测结果显示,1.02μg/ml SK36作用24、48 h后的细胞凋亡率分别为(40.61±2.13)%和(67.40 ±9.15)%,明显高于对照组的(16.97±0.61)%,差异有统计学意义(t=18.444,t=9.528,P<0.01);SK36诱导THP-1细胞凋亡且经历了Caspase-3的激活(F=323.61,P<0.01).结论 紫草素二甲醚衍生物SK36能有效地诱导THP-1细胞凋亡,其作用机制主要是激活Caspase-3.     

Interpretation of periapical lesions comparing conventional, direct digital, and telephonically transmitted radiographic images

BACKGROUND: The current histological evaluation of the effects of endocrine therapy has difficulty in distinguishing pathologic degeneration caused by androgen ablation from residual poorly differentiated tumor. Therefore, we examined the changes in cell proliferation and apoptosis before and after endocrine therapy and analyzed whether they correlated with pathologic effects and histological differentiation. METHODS: Between January 1986 and December 1995, 52 patients with clinical stage B2 and C prostate cancer underwent radical prostatectomy after neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (median duration 3.8 months). Proliferative and apoptotic activities of pretreatment biopsy specimens and radical prostatectomy specimens were analyzed with MIB-1 monoclonal antibody and in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA. RESULTS: The mean proliferative index (PI) of radical prostatectomy specimens was significantly lower than that of biopsy specimens (P = 0.000003) and the decrease in PI after endocrine therapy was significantly related to histological differentiation (P = 0.014). There was a weak relationship between the decrease in PI after endocrine therapy and pathologic effects (P = 0.054), while in pathologically effective cases (Grades 2 and 3), three out of 16 (19%) showed a < 50% decrease in PI after endocrine therapy, and may be regarded as having poorly differentiated tumors. The mean apoptotic index (AI) of prostatectomy specimens tended to be higher than that of biopsy specimens (P = 0.054). The increase in AI after endocrine therapy was not related to histological differentiation and pathologic effects. CONCLUSION: Pathologic effects caused by endocrine therapy may be in part misled by routine histopathologic staining and the change in PI may help in recognizing the pathologic effects of endocrine therapy and have adjunctive value for the interpretation of the effects of endocrine therapy.     

Molecular mechanisms of rat and human pancreatic triglyceride lipases

Extracorporeal photochemotherapy (ExP) is a well-tolerated new form of chemoimmunotherapy, which is considered to be effective for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and the treatment of choice for Sézary syndrome. Improvements have also been seen in patients with non-erythrodermic mycosis fungoides (MF) in the early stages, even when tumour cells are not detectable in the peripheral blood. In this study, we used ExP as a monotherapy in seven patients who had early stage (Ib) MF, and who were no longer responsive to or had contraindications for other therapies. We observed a clinical improvement in the disease after 12 months of treatment: one patient showed a complete response, five a partial response, and one remained stable. In each patient we compared skin biopsies of large plaque lesions before and after the treatment. We undertook a histological evaluation of the infiltrate. The lymphoid cell proliferation and death rates were quantified using the following parameters; lymphoid cell density (LCD), Ki67 + lymphoid cell nuclei percentage (Ki67 + Lcn percentage), and apoptotic index (AI). Significant decreases in the lymphoid cell infiltrate and in cell proliferation, and a significant increase in AI were observed after therapy. The mean LCD decreased from 187 +/- 33 to 34 +/- 17.7, Ki67 + Lcn mean percentage decreased from 16.9 +/- 3.9 to 4.9 +/- 2.4, and the AI mean value increased from 0.05 +/- 0.03 to 2.41 +/- 1.54. Our results suggest a role for apoptosis in the improvement of the skin lesions and are in line with some reports on the mode of action of ExP. Although the way in which ExP works needs to be clarified further, it does seem to stimulate a CD8+ cell-mediated anticlonotypic activity against circulating pathogenic clones. Furthermore, a release of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) by circulating monocytes has been demonstrated after ExP. Both are known to induce cell death by apoptosis.