Int J Clin Exp Patho
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2014
Upregulation of neuregulin-1 reverses signs of neuropathic pain in rats.
Peripheral nerve injury can result in neuropathic pain, a chronic condition of unclear cause often poorly responsive to current treatments. One possibility is that nerve injury disrupts large A-fiber-mediated inhibition of C-fiber-evoked responses in spinal dorsal horn neurons, leading to central sensitization. A recent study provided a potential molecular mechanism; large dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons secrete neuregulin-1 (NRG1), which binds to erbB4 receptors on interneurons and promotes GABA release to inhibit C-fiber-evoked nociceptive transmission. Thus, reduced NRG1 expression following nerve injury could induce chronic pain by disinhibition. We examined if DRG expression of NRG1 is in fact reduced in a rat model of neuropathic pain and if exogenous NRG1 alleviates behavioral signs of this condition. ⋯ Our results are consistent with a model of neuropathic pain whereby peripheral nerve injury reduces NRG1-mediated inhibition of nociceptive signaling. Modulating NRG1 may have therapeutic potential for treating neuropathic pain.
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2014
Knockdown of S100A7 reduces lung squamous cell carcinoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
S100A7 plays a role in the malignant potential of several epithelial cancers, and could candidate diagnostic marker or therapeutic target. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) regulates cancer cell growth and is modulated by phospholipase activity in many cancer cells. In the present study, we first evaluate the involvement of S100A7 in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical usefulness for diagnosis. We then study whether knockdown of S100A7 in lung squamous cell carcinoma cells would reduce cell proliferation and NF-κB activity in vitro and attenuate tumor growth in vivo. ⋯ Our present results suggest that S100A7 level is a promising tool for diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma. Knockdown of S100A7 suppresses lung cancer growth in part by attenuating NF-κB activity. S100A7 may be a promising therapeutic target for lung squamous cell carcinoma.
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2014
Polydatin attenuates ipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rats.
Anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of polydatin (PD) have been demonstrated in our previous studies. Recently, we have found that PD treatment can ameliorate burn-induced acute lung injury (ALI). In the present study, we hypothesized that PD may provide protective effect against LPS-induced ALI through reducing inflammation and apoptosis. ⋯ Moreover, PD (30 and 45 mg/kg) treatment inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response, as evidenced by the downregulation of lung myeloperoxidase activity, total cells and PMNs in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the systemic levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, PD (30 and 45 mg/kg) treatment remarkably improved LPS-induced increase in TUNEL (deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining-positive cells, caspase 3 activity, Bax over-expression and Bcl-2 down-expression. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that PD (30 and 45 mg/kg) treatment attenuates LPS-induced ALI through reducing lung inflammation and apoptosis.
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2013
Value of epithelioid morphology and PDGFRA immunostaining pattern for prediction of PDGFRA mutated genotype in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs).
Genotyping is a prerequisite for tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy in high risk and malignant GIST. About 10% of GISTs are wild-type for KIT but carry PDGFRA mutations. Applying the traditional approach, mutation analysis of these cases is associated with higher costs if all hotspots regions in KIT (exon 9, 11, 13, 17) are performed at first. Our aim was to evaluate the predictive value of a combined histomorphological-immunohistochemical pattern analysis of PDGFRA-mutated GISTs to efficiently direct KIT and PDGFRA mutation analysis. ⋯ A combination of histomorphology and PDGFRA immunostaining is a reliable predictor of PDGFRA genotype in GIST. This approach allows direct selection of the "gene/exons of relevance" to be analyzed and may help to reduce costs and work load and shorten processing time of GIST genotyping by mutation analysis.
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Int J Clin Exp Patho · Jan 2013
Secretory meningiomas: clinical, radiological and pathological findings in 70 consecutive cases at one institution.
Secretory meningioma (SM) is a rare, benign subtype of meningioma. Between January 2005 and December 2010, 70 SMs were operated on at the Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, radiological and immunohistochemical findings, and patient outcome to discuss the specific features of SMs. ⋯ In conclusion, cranial base preference, hyper-signal T2 weighted MR image and "xenon light" GD-DTPA enhancement are specific for SMs. Prognosis of SMs is related with operation completeness and surgical risks, rather than the extent of PTBE. Residual SM grows slowly and reacts well to gamma-knife therapy.