Loss of 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase indicates a tumor suppressor role in pituitary adenomas.

15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15-PGDH) may function as a tumor suppressor that antagonizes the action of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) oncogene in several types of tumors. However, it is unknown if it has a role in the pituitary. Recently, our group found that 15-PGDH expression was low in prolactin (PRL) secreting adenomas (prolactinomas) and growth hormone (GH) secreting adenomas (GHomas) using fiber-optic BeadArray technology.

Effects of fulvestrant on biological activity and Wnt expression in rat GH3 cells.

The present study investigated the influence of anti-estrogen treatment (fulvestrant) on pituitary adenoma cell line GH3 biological activity, the estrogen receptor α pathway, the WnT pathway, and mechanisms of decreased Wnt inhibitory factor-1 expression in GH3 cells. Results showed that fulvestrant suppressed GH3 cell proliferation and reduced hormone secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Estrogen receptor α and Wnt4 expression decreased, but Wnt inhibitory factor-1 expression increased in a dose-dependent manner following fulvestrant treatment, and β-catenin expression remained unchanged.

TLR9 expression is associated with prognosis in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

The aim of this study was to determine if there was an association between expression of toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in glioblastoma tissue and patient outcome in glioblastoma multiforme. Further, we characterized the direct in vitro effects of the TLR9 agonist, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), commonly used as a vaccine adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy, on glioma cells. TLR9 expression was assessed using immunohistochemical techniques, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to investigate the expression of other proteins in glioma cells relevant to immunotherapy.

Differential gene expression by fiber-optic beadarray and pathway in adrenocorticotrophin-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Background: Adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH)-secreting pituitary adenomas account for approximately 7% - 14% of all pituitary adenomas, but its pathogenesis is still enigmatic. This study aimed to explore mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of ACTH-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Methods: We used fiber-optic beadarray to examine gene expression in three ACTH-secreting adenomas compared with three normal pituitaries.

[Application of neuroendoscope in the treatment of skull base chordoma].

Objective: To further explore the application, approach, indication and prognosis of neuroendoscope treatment for skull base chordoma.

Methods: A total of 101 patients of skull base chordoma were admitted at our hospital from May 2000 to April 2010. There were 59 males and 42 females.

Effects of an estrogen receptor antagonist on proliferation, prolactin secretion and growth factor expression in the MMQ pituitary prolactinoma cell line.

The aim of this study was to investigate the functional role of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in MMQ pituitary prolactinoma cells in the absence of estrogen with respect to proliferation, prolactin (PRL) secretion, and expression of growth factors. MMQ cells were treated with the ERα antagonist fulvestrant, then proliferation and PRL secretion were measured using MTS and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Levels of ERα, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and B cell leukemia/lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis.

Analysis of differential gene expression using fiber-optic bead array and pathway analyses in pituitary adenomas.

Pituitary adenomas are commonly occurring, benign neoplasms that account for 15% of intracranial neoplasms but their pathogenesis remains elusive. To explore the possible pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas, we used fiber-optic bead arrays to compare the gene expression profiles in five major pituitary adenoma subtypes to normal pituitary gland from three recently deceased males. We used reverse transcriptase-real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to randomly validate the expression of four differentially expressed genes in the five pituitary adenoma subtypes and three normal pituitary glands.

[Associativity between differentiation potential and VEGF secretory capability of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells].

Objective: To investigate the multi-differentiation potential and VEGF secretory volume of monoclonal immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-TERT) and to determine the relationship between them.

Methods: Monoclonal hMSC-TERT were isolated using limiting dilution. The growth curves of them were detected by method of MTT.

Suprasellar cysts: clinical presentation, surgical indications, and optimal surgical treatment.

Background: To describe the clinical presentation of suprasellar cysts (SSCs) and surgical indications, and compare the treatment methods of endoscopic ventriculocystostomy (VC) and ventriculocystocisternotomy (VCC).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 73 consecutive patients with SSC who were treated between June 2002 and September 2009. Twenty-two patients were treated with VC and 51 with VCC.

Anti-tumor efficacy of polymer-platinum(II) complex micelles fabricated from folate conjugated PEG-graft-α,β-poly [(N-amino acidyl)-aspartamide] and cis-dichlorodiammine platinum(II) in tumor-bearing mice.

To develop a tumor-targeting nano-sized delivery system of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum(II) (CDDP), polymer-metal complex micelles were fabricated from folate-conjugated PEG-graft-α,β-poly [(N-amino acidyl)-aspartamide] (FA-PEG-g-PAAsp) and CDDP. The formation of polymer-metal complex micelles was confirmed by the measurements of critical aggregation concentration (CAC) and particle size, and the morphological observation. It was found that all the micelles showed spherical shapes with clear core-shell structures in narrow size distributions.

Assessment of endoscopic treatment for middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts.

Background: Endoscopic cystocisternotomy is one of three surgical methods used to treat middle cranial fossa arachnoid cysts. There is debate about which method is the best.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endoscopic cystocisternotomy for treatment of arachnoid cysts of the middle cranial fossa.

Anatomic study of the anterior skull base via an endoscopic transnasal approach.

Objectives: With rapid advances in endoscopic neurosurgery, it has become possible to treat some lesions located in the anterior skull base through a transnasal approach. This anatomic study was undertaken to describe the area of surgical exposure of the anterior skull base afforded by transnasal approaches with an endoscope, as well as to provide references for clinical practice.

Methods: Thirty bony skull base specimens (all Chinese) were used, and 10 injected adult cadaver heads (all Chinese) were dissected for a simulated endoscopic transnasal approach to the anterior skull base.

[Endoscopic treatment of middle fossa arachnoid cysts].

Objective: To investigate and evaluate the effectiveness of neuroendoscopic therapy for arachnoid cysts of middle cranial fossa.

Methods: From January 2004 to June 2009, 32 patients with arachnoid cysts of middle cranial fossa who were treated with endoscopic cystocisternal fenestration were retrospectively analyzed. There were 21 male patients and 11 female patients, aged from 6 months to 39 years.

Establishment of intramedullary spinal cord glioma model in rats.

Background: Treating intramedullary spinal cord gliomas is a big challenge because of limited options, high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. An intramedullary glioma model is prerequisite for testing new treatments. This paper describes the establishment of a rodent intramedullary glioma model and presents functional progression, neuroimaging and histopathological characterization of the tumour model.

[Using MR PC cine to evaluate CSF dynamics in neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy:an analysis of 146 cases].

Objective: To evaluate the change of CSF dynamics using MR PC Cine for neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Methods: 146 cases of hydrocephalus were treated by neuroendoscopic third ventriculostomy including 36 cases checked with MR PC Cine study randomly. The successful result was assessed by clinical symptom and imaging study.

[Microsurgical treatment of giant cell tumor of skull].

Objective: To explore the diagnosis and microsurgical treatment of giant cell tumor (GCT) of skull.

Methods: The investigators reviewed the clinical features, operative approach and prognosis of 23 consecutive cases of GCT of skull operated at our department between July 2000 and November 2008.

Results: Headache was the most common presenting symptom (86.

Analysis of differential gene expression by fiber-optic BeadArray and pathway in prolactinomas.

Prolactinomas are the most common secretory pituitary tumors; however, their pathogenesis is unclear. In order to explore the pathogenesis of prolactinomas, we used fiber-optic BeadArray to examine gene expression profiles in five prolactinomas compared with three normal pituitaries. Three down-regulated genes and one up-regulated gene were chosen for validation by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.

Analysis of differential gene expression by bead-based fiber-optic array in growth-hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas.

Growth-hormone-secreting pituitary adenomas (GHomas) account for approximately 20% of all pituitary neoplasms. However, the pathogenesis of GHomas remains to be elucidated. To explore the possible pathogenesis of GHomas, we used bead-based fiber-optic arrays to examine the gene expression in five GHomas and compared them to three healthy pituitaries.

Effects of estrogen receptor antagonist on biological behavior and expression of growth factors in the prolactinoma MMQ cell line.

The relationship between estrogen and pituitary prolactinoma is well documented. The biological effects of estrogen are mainly mediated by estrogen receptor α (ERα). Several lines of evidence demonstrate that growth factors such as pituitary tumor transforming gene (PTTG), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1), transforming growth factor β3 (TGFβ3), and transforming growth factor β receptor type II (TGFβRII) play an important role in prolactinoma pathogenesis induced by estrogen, but the relationship between ERα and such growth factors is still unclear.

Melatonin modulates the effects of diethylstilbestrol (DES) on the anterior pituitary of the female Wistar rat.

We studied the anti-tumorigenic effect of melatonin in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-treated anterior pituitaries in rats. Twenty-one female Wistar rats were randomly allocated into three groups: vehicle control rats, DES-treated rats, and DES-treated rats co-administrated with melatonin beginning at week 13. At the end of 16 weeks, rats were weighed and decapitated for morphological studies, including an H+E staining-based score evaluation in regard to cell proliferation, angiogenesis, immunostaining for VEGF, MMP-9, and AQP-1, and electron microscopy.

[Effect of monoclonal or different cell seeding densities on the differentiation potential of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells in vitro and in vivo].

Objective: To determine whether monoclonality or different cell seeding densities could influence the differentiation potential of immortalized human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC-TERT) and to find an effective cultural method of hMSC-TERT in vitro.

Methods: From the parental hMSC-TERT cell line, we derived 30 monoclonal cell lines and two independent cell lines based on different plating densities during expansion in culture. Their adipocytic, osteogenic, neuronal differentiation potential in vitro and multidirectional differentiation potential in vivo were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for pathologic tissue markers.

Effects of fulvestrant, an estrogen receptor antagonist, on MMQ cells and its mechanism.

Objectives: Unlike the successful endocrine therapy of breast cancers and other estrogen-dependent diseases, little is known about the effect of anti-estrogen treatment on pituitary tumors. Our objectives were to study the effect of fulvestrant, a new type anti-estrogen devoid of any agonistic activities, on prolactinoma cell line MMQ in vitro and its possible mechanisms.

Design: In the experiment, the prolactin concentration, proliferation and apoptosis of the MMQ cell were measured to investigate the anti-tumor effect of the fulvestrant.