AIM: To investigate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2a/endothelial PAS domain protein 1 (EPAS1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Expression of HIF-2a/EPASl was investigated immunohistochemically on paraffin-embedded sections from 97 patients with HCC. To further confirm that HIF-2a/EPASl in HCC tissues also correlated with angiogenesis, a parallel immunohistchemistry study of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was performed on these 97 cases. RESULTS: HIF-2a/EPASl could be detected in 50 of 97 cases (51.6%), including 19 weakly positive (19.8%), and 31 strongly positive (31.1%), the other 47 cases were negative (48.4%). The expression of HIF-2a/EPASlwas significantly correlated with tumor size, capsule infiltration, portal vein invasion, and necrosis. A parallel immunohistochemical analysis of VEGF demonstrated its positive correlation with capsule infiltration, portal vein invasion, and HIF-2a/EPASl overexpression, which supported the correlation of HIF-2a/EPASlup-regulation with tumor angiogenesis. No apparent correlation was observed between HIF-2a/EPASl and capsular formation, presence of cirrhosis, and histological grade. CONCLUSION: HIF-2a/EPASl is expressed in most of HCC with capsular infiltration and portal vein invasion, which indicates a possible role of HIF-2a/EPASl in HCC metastasis.

目的 研究探讨RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的过量表达与肝细胞癌（HCC）的发生发展和侵袭转移的关系。方法 采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT2PCR）和Western印迹法，检测25例HCC及其癌旁肝组织、4例门静脉主干癌栓或肝外转移灶RhoCmRNA和蛋白的表达；同时采用PCR产物单链构象多态性（PCR2SSCP）银染法检测RhoC基因的突变情况。结果 HCC组织和癌旁肝组织中均可检测到RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的表达， RhoCmRNA在HCC组织中的表达较癌旁肝组织高，其吸光度（A）比值分别为1.8±1.1和1.0±0.7，差异有显著性（P<0.01）；RhoC蛋白在HCC组织中的表达同样高于癌旁肝组织，其A比值分别为33992±10384和17342±9998， 差异有显著性（P<0.01）。4例门静脉主干癌栓或肝外转移灶中的RhoC基因mRNA和蛋白的表达量分别为3.3±0.5和63865±9116，较HCC肝内病灶高，差异有显著性（P<0.01）；RhoCmRNA和蛋白在分化较差、结节数较多、有静脉浸润或伴有肝外转移灶的HCC中过量表达（P<0.05）。全部HCCCR2SSCP银染法分析均未发现异常泳动条带。结论 RhoC基因的过量表达与HCC的发生发展和侵袭转移密切相关，且可能是通过过量表达而非突变发挥作用。

AIM: To investigate the expression of cysteine-rich61 (Cyr61), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and nephroblastoma overexpressed gene (Nov) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to evaluate the relationship between Cyr61, CTGF and Nov genes expression with invasion and metastasis of HCC. METHODS: Thirty-one HCC specimens were divided into small hepatocellular carcinoma (SHCC), nodular hepatocellular carcinoma (NHCC), solitary large hepatocellular carcinoma (SLHCC) according to their diameter and number of nodes. Reverse transcription polymerse chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of Cyr61, CTGF and Nov genes in 31 resected specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma and para-cancerous normal liver tissues semi-quantitatively and the relation between their expression levels and clinical pathological parameters were compared. RESULTS: The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than those in para-cancerous normal liver tissues (P<0.01). The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in HCC with venous invasion were higher than those in HCC without venous invasion. CTGF expression in HCC Edmondson's grade III-IV was significantly higher than that in HCC Edmondson's grade I-II (P=0.022). There was no obvious correlation between Nov mRNA and clinical-pathological features. Compared to NHCC, SLHCC had better cell differentiation, easier capsule formation, less microscopic venous invasion, milder liver cirrhosis. The expressions of Cyr61 and CTGF mRNA in NHCC were significantly higher than those in SLHCC and SHCC. CONCLUSION: Cyr61 and CTGF genes may play an important role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis and correlate with recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. SLHCC has better biological behaviors than NHCC.

AIM: To investigate the expression of metallothioneins (MTs), which were recently thought to have close relationship with tumors, in human hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: Histological specimens of 35 cases of primary human hepatocellular carcinoma with para-neoplastic liver tissue and 5 cases of normal liver were stained for MTs with monoclonal mouse anti-MTs serum (E9) by the immunohistochemical ABC technique. RESULTS: MTs were stained in the 35 cases of HCC, including 6 cases negative (17.1%), 23 weakly positive (65.7%), and 6 strongly positive(17.1%). But MTs were stained strongly positive in all the five cases of normal liver and 35 cases of para-neoplastic liver tissue. The differences of MTs expression between HCC and normal liver tissue or para-neoplastic liver tissue were highly significant (P<0.01). The rate of MTs expression in HCC grade I was 100 percent, higher than that in grade II(81%) and grade III and IV (78%). But the differences were not significant (P>0.05). No obvious correlations between MTs expression in HCC and tumor size, clinical stage or serum alpha fetoprotein concentration were found (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Decrease of MTs expression in HCC may play a role in carcinogenesis of HCC. MTs are stained heterogenously in HCC. We can choose the anticancer agents according to the MTs concentration in HCC, which may improve the results of chemotherapy for HCC.

AIM: To investigate the role of tri-iodothyronine supplement in protecting gut barrier in septic rats. METHODS: Twenty-two rats were randomized into three groups: sham group (n=6), sepsis group (n=8), and sepsis plus tri-iodothyronine (T3) group (n=8). Septic rat model was established through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). After 5 h, sham and sepsis groups received saline, and the remaining group received T3 intraperitoneally. Twenty-one hrs After CLP, intestinal permeability and serum free T3 and T4 were measured with fluorescence spectrophotometer and by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Intestinal ultrastructure and histologic morphology were observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy, respectively. RESULTS: After 21 h, septic symptoms and signs in sepsis plus T3 group were milder than those in sepsis group. Serum FT3 or FT4 concentration in sepsis group was lower than that in sham group (1.59