Functional morphology of the gonoduct of the viviparous teleost Poeciliopsis gracilis (Heckel, 1848) (Poeciliidae)

Female teleosts do not develop Müllerian ducts; consequently, the ovary of teleosts contains two zones: germinal and gonoduct. The gonoduct lacks germinal cells, but has relevant functions in the reproductive process. We describe the functional morphology of the gonoduct in the viviparous teleost Poeciliopsis gracilis during nongestation and gestation stages. This study tests the hypothesis that the gonoduct functions as a barrier between the germinal zone and the exterior. By providing information about morphology and function of the gonoduct we show that this part of the ovary has an essential role in the reproduction of teleosts. The ovaries were processed by histological technique and stained with hematoxylin‐eosin (H‐E), Masson's trichrome, toluidine blue and periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS). The gonoduct is divided into three regions: cephalic, middle, and caudal. In the cephalic and middle regions there are mucosal folds that extend into the gonoductal lumen, forming structures similar to a cervix. The caudal region has two portions: the anterior contains a dorsal invagination and exocrine glands among columnar cells; the posterior has a ventral flexion and stratified epithelium with apical secretory cells. The morphology of this epithelium indicates two functions: (a) secretory by the apical columnar cells, and (b) protection through the stratification. Another peculiarity of the caudal region is that both ducts, reproductive and digestive, converge in a common cavity at their caudal ends, forming a cloacal region. The histology of the gonoduct indicates relevant functions including: (1) the control of the luminal diameter by the muscle and the presence of mucosal folds, like a cervix; (2) the relationship with the spermatozoa during insemination and storing them in mucosal folds; (3) the support of immunological processes; (4) secretory activities; (5) forming the duct during birth; and (6) possibly, acts as a barrier against parasite infestations.     

Inter‐ and intra‐observer variation in the reporting of cervical smears: specialist cytopathologists versus histopathologists

One hundred and ten cervical smears were circulated to five specialist consultant cytopathologists and five consultant histopathologists. Of these smears, 100 were randomized and re‐circulated. The cytopathologists reported endocervical cells and wart virus infection more frequently than the histopathologists, although neither group showed good inter‐observer agreement for either assessment. Apart from smear adequacy and the presence of endocervical cells, both groups showed good intra‐observer agreement in all the parameters measured. This suggests that overall individuals were applying their own personal criteria with consistency over time, although a previous study had shown considerable lack of inter‐observer agreement among the histopathologists on the grade of dyskaryosis and the management recommendation. The results indicate that specialist cytopathologists bring a different viewpoint to the reporting of cervical smears than histopathologists. They also show a lack of standardization in the reporting of smears despite the guidelines issued by the British Society for Clinical Cytology.     

PDGF-D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌中的表达及其意义

目的:检测宫颈鳞癌组织中血小板源性生长因子D(PDGF-D)和血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)的表达,探讨二者在宫颈癌变过程中的作用及意义,为探讨宫颈鳞癌的发病机制和宫颈鳞癌的早期治疗提供理论依据。方法:采用免疫组织化学(SP法)检测40例宫颈鳞癌和10例正常宫颈组织中PDGF-D和VEGF蛋白的表达,分析两者之间的相关性及其与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果:宫颈鳞癌组织中PDGF-D和VEGF蛋白的表达显著高于正常宫颈组织(P0.05);PDGF-D和VEGF的表达与宫颈鳞癌的分化程度及淋巴结转移有关(P0.05);与年龄及临床分期无关(P0.05)。Spearman相关分析发现PDGF-D与VEGF表达程度呈正相关(r=0.346,P0.05)。结论:1.PDGF-D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌组织中特异性高表达,可能在宫颈鳞癌的发生、发展与转移中起着重要作用。2.PDGF-D和VEGF表达与宫颈鳞癌的分化程度及淋巴结转移有关,与年龄及临床分期无关,提示它们可能在宫颈鳞癌的浸润和转移及预后方面有重要的监测意义。3.PDGF-D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达呈正相关,提示两者起着相互促进的作用,对PDGF-D和VEGF的联合检查,为临床实际应用提供了参考。     

Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from human uterine cervix cancer tissues

In the present study, MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) were successfully isolated and identified from hUCC (human uterine cervix cancer) tissues. The morphological appearance, immunophenotype, growth curve, cell cycle, cytogenetic features and differentiation potential of these cells were investigated. Results showed that cells isolated from the uterine cervix cancer tissues displayed fibroblast‐like morphology and grew into colonies. Immunophenotyping by flow cytometry revealed that the isolated cells were positive for CD13, CD29, CD44, CD105 and HLA‐I, while negative for CD10, CD14, CD31, CD34, CD38 and HLA‐DR. The cells kept a normal karyotype by chromosome analysis. At the third passage, the percentages of cells in G₀‐/G₁‐, 2‐/M‐ and S‐phase were 84.94, 8.36 and 6.71%, respectively. Under appropriate induction conditions, these cells can differentiate into osteogenic, adipogenic cells and hepatocytes. Taken together, MSCs were confirmed to exist in hUCC tissues, which may provide a new target for clinical cancer therapy.     

NF-κ B和HIF-1在宫颈上皮内瘤变和鳞癌中表达的意义

目的：初步探索NF-κB和HIF-1在宫颈上皮内瘤变和宫颈鳞癌中的表达及临床病理学意义。方法：以宫颈上皮内瘤变和宫颈鳞癌病例为研究对象,应用免疫组织化学方法检测NF-κB和HIF-1的表达情况并分析其表达在宫颈癌变中的意义。结果：NF-κB在正常宫颈上皮、CINⅠ、CINⅡ、CINⅢ、鳞癌的阳性表达率分别为16%,36%,44%,68%,72%。总体比较存在显著性差异x2=21.636,p〈0.01。组间两两比较显示正常上皮与CINⅢ和鳞癌有显著性差异。HIF-1α在正常宫颈上皮、CINⅠ、CINⅡ、CINⅢ、鳞癌的阳性表达率分别为12%,20%,40%,68%,76%。总体比较存在显著性差异x2=32.733,p〈0.01。组间两两比较显示正常上皮与CINⅢ（x2=16.333 p〈0.001）和鳞癌（x2=20.779 p〈0.001）有显著性差异。结论：NF-κB和HIF-1与宫颈鳞癌的发生有关,可能作为早期诊断的标志物。     

Weekly vs. tri-weekly cisplatin based chemoradiation in carcinoma cervix: a prospective randomized study of toxicity and compliance

BackgroundAddition of chemotherapy to radiation has improved 5-year survival by 6%. However, the optimal dose and schedule of concurrent cisplatin is not well defined, though widely accepted practice is the weekly schedule of 40 mg/m² for 5 weeks. Repeated admissions for weekly cisplatin drain the limited resources in high volume centres. We intended to study the compliance and toxicity of two cisplatin schedules in our patients diagnosed with carcinoma cervix.Materials and methodsBetween 2007–2011, 212 patients, histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma with stages IIB to IIIB were randomized into two arms. All patients were planned for external beam radiotherapy 45 Gy/25 frs over 5 weeks followed by Intracavitary or Interstitial brachytherapy to a total BED dose of 75–85 Gy. Single agent cisplatin given concomitantly, was scheduled weekly (40 mg/m²/cycle, 5 cycles) in an arm A and three weekly (100 mg/m²/cycle, 2 cycles) in an arm B. Toxicity and compliance were evaluated weekly according to the RTOG guidelines. Analysis of the compiled data was done using SSPS version 20.ResultsOf the evaluable 212, 109 patients received weekly cisplatin chemotherapy and 103 patients received three weekly cisplatin. The most common acute toxicity observed was grade I–II leucopoenia. The upper and lower gastrointestinal reactions were high in three weekly arms, which was statistically significant (57% and 42.7%, p < 0.05). Proctitis was observed in 10% of patients in both of the arms and only two patients had Gr1 Cystitis after 6 months of treatment.ConclusionsTri-weekly cisplatin based concurrent chemoradiation can be adopted in high volume centres with manageable haematological and gastrointestinal acute toxicities.     

中国湖北地区HPV16型E6和E7基因变异和进化发生学研究

研究中国湖北地区宫颈癌患者的人乳头瘤病毒16型E6和E7的变异以及HPV16变异体的分布。从宫颈癌患者手术切除标本提取组织DNA,用HPV16 E6和E7特异性引物进行PCR扩增,对扩增的部分E6和E7产物片段进行测序分析。在80例宫颈癌组织DNA中有41例发生E6基因178位核苷酸的突变,突变频率58.75%,相应核苷酸改变为Asp-Glu,E7 647在31例测序样品中有22例发生核苷酸序列A到G改变,使29位氨基酸由Asn变为Ser,突变频率70.97%,结果显示在E6和E7基因的178位和647位核苷酸存在高频率的碱基变异。对E6和E7基因的进化树分析表明,中国湖北地区流行的HPV16病毒株主要为亚洲型变异体(As),其次为欧洲型(E),没有发现非洲-1型(Af-1),非洲-2型(Af-2)和亚洲美洲型(AA)HPV16变异体,中国湖北地区流行的As变异体是否有更高的致宫颈癌的风险还有待于进一步对不同阶段CIN和正常宫颈上皮样品的E6和E7基因进行序列分析和对变异体蛋白进行功能研究。     

PDGF—D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌中的表达及其意义

目的：检测宫颈鳞癌组织中血小板源性生长因子D（PDGF—D）和血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）的表达,探讨二者在宫颈癌变过程中的作用及意义,为探讨宫颈鳞癌的发病机制和宫颈鳞癌的早期治疗提供理论依据。方法：采用免疫组织化学（sP法）检测40例宫颈鳞癌和10例正常宫颈组织中PDGF—D和VEGF蛋白的表达,分析两者之间的相关性及其与临床病理特征之间的关系。结果：宫颈鳞癌组织中PDGF—D和VEGF蛋白的表达显著高于正常宫颈组织（P〈0．05）;PDGF—D和VEGF的表达与宫颈鳞癌的分化程度及淋巴结转移有关（P〈0．05）;与年龄及临床分期无关（P〉0．05）。Spearman相关分析发现PDGF—D与VEGF表达程度呈正相关（r=0．346,P〈0．05）。结论：1．PDGF—D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌组织中特异性高表达,可能在宫颈鳞癌的发生、发展与转移中起着重要作用。2．PDGF-D和VEGF表达与宫颈鳞癌的分化程度及淋巴结转移有关,与年龄及临床分期无关,提示它们可能在宫颈鳞癌的浸润和转移及预后方面有重要的监测意义。3．PDGF-D和VEGF在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达呈正相关,提示两者起着相互促进的作用,对PDGF—D和VEGF的联合检查,为临床实际应用提供了参考。     

Primary cervical lymphoma: the role of cervical cytology

Two cases of primary malignant lymphoma of the uterine cervix are reported. Both were confirmed by histology as high grade B cell lymphomas. In one case, the diagnosis was made on a second colposcopic biopsy after an initial cervical smear and colposcopic biopsy were negative. In the second case, dyskaryotic cells of uncertain type were identified in a cervical smear taken at colposcopy performed as part of follow up for previous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)I. The cytologic features and differential diagnosis of this rare cervical neoplasm are discussed, with emphasis on the role of the Papanicolaou smear in the initial diagnosis of this tumour.