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Objective: To find the time window of normalization of tumor vasculature by endostar in tumor-bearing mice with ovarian cancer., Methods: The nude murine model of ovarian cancer was established. The vasculature markers α-SMA (alpha-smooth muscle actin) and collagen IV covered tumor vessels and hypoxic zone following the treatment of endostar were monitored. According to the changes of microvascular morphology and tumor hypoxia zone, the time window was identified. Furthermore the treatment protocols of scheduling dosing of cisplatin plus endostar at different time points were designed. After treatment tumor volume, the parameters of microvascular density (MVD) and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen) were monitored to evaluate the effects of different protocols., Results: At Days 4 and 6 post-treatment, more α-SMA and collagen IV covered vessels could be observed. The amount of microvasculature expressed α-SMA on days 4 compared with control was (15.3 ± 5.2) vs (4.3 ± 2.1)/mm(2) (P < 0.01); at Day 6, the result was (16.4 ± 4.6) vs (6.6 ± 2.4)/mm(2)(P < 0.01). The expression of collagen IV had a similar change. And the numbers of microvasculature expressing collagen IV was (14.7 ± 4.3) vs (6.7 ± 5.1)/mm(2) at Days 4 and 6 (P < 0.01); (18.4 ± 5.5) vs (7.1 ± 1.7)/mm(2) (P < 0.01). The expression of HIF-1α decreased in hypoxic area. In the rhES + DDP (d4-6) group, the value of microvessel density (MVD) decreased and the expression of PCNA significantly decreased versus other groups., Conclusion: Endostar may normalize the tumor vasculature. And the time window is found at Days 4-6 post-treatment. During the time of vascular normalization, a combination therapy of endostar plus cisplatin has optimal efficacies.

Objective: To investigate the correlation and anatomic association of benign hyperplastic nodules in the peripheral zone (PZ) with those in the transition zone (TZ) of the prostate, and to compare the histological components of the two kinds of nodules., Methods: We obtained benign hyperplastic nodules specimens from the PZ and TZ by autopsy, measured the distance between the outer surface of the nodules and the inner gland, observed the integrity of the surgical envelope of the prostate, and determined the histological components of the two kinds of nodules by HE staining, immunohistochemistry and automatic quantitative image analysis., Results: The surgical envelope of the prostate was integrated and the distance between the nodules of the PZ and the outer surface of the inner gland was about 2.5 to 5 mm ([3.9 +/- 0.8] mm), with no signs of anatomic connection in between. The stromata and epithelia in the nodules accounted for (69.32 +/- 8.35)% and (16.08 +/- 5.36)% in the PZ and (74.58 +/- 8.95)% and (15.82 +/- 6.41)% in the TZ., Conclusion: Benign hyperplastic nodules may originate from the PZ of the prostate and not correlate with the inner gland hyperplasia in the TZ, but with no statistical difference between the histological components of the two kinds of nodules.

Objective: To explore the efficacy of KGQG and its therapeutic mechanisms in chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis., Methods: 57 chronic hepatitis B patients with liver fibrosis were randomly divided into two groups: 45 cases in KGQG group were treated by KGQG and routine medications; 12 cases in control group were treated by routine medications only. Serum liver function test results, PCIII, CIV, HA and liver biopsy results of these 57 patients were simultaneously collected and analyzed before and after this intervention., Results: KGQG group showed better efficacy over control group in liver function recovery, decrease of serum PCIII, CIV, HA levels and liver pathologic grades (P 0.05 or 0.01)., Conclusion: The KGQG could effectively ameliorate liver function and facilitate the inhibition and degradation of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients, which may be developed as a novel therapeusis to treat this hard-to-cure disease.

Objective: To investigate the effects of saikosaponin-d (SSd) on glomerular mesangial cells (MCs) proliferation and hyperplastic extracellular matrix (ECM) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to provide experimental proof for its use in prevention and treatment of glomerulosclerosis., Methods: Rat's MCs were cultivated and identified. The cultured MCs were stimulated by LPS and incubated with different concentrations of SSd. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay, LDH assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Type IV collagen (Col IV), fibronectin (FN) and transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in the conditioned medium were measured by ELISA. The expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4), c-Jun and c-Fos were detected by immunohistochemistry., Results: After treated by SSd, MC proliferation was inhibited, cells in G0/G1 phase increased, and apoptosis induced. Moreover, secretion of Col IV, FN and TGF-beta1 and the expressions of CDK4, c-Jun and c-Fos in MC were inhibited., Conclusion: The inhibitory action of SSd on glomerulosclerosis was realized through inhibiting the expressions of CDK4, c-J un and c-Fos.

Objective: To study the role of changes of matrix metalloproteinase-2, 9 (MMP-2, 9) activity in the development of dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced liver fibrosis in rats., Methods: The rat liver fibrosis model was established by peritoneal injection of DMN (at a dose of 10 mg/kg, 3 times a week, for 4 weeks). The dynamic changes of liver fibrosis were observed at different time points (1d, 2d, 3d, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks). The MMP-2, 9 activity was measured by zymogram method. Liver ultrastructure was observed by electron microscope. The expressions of type IV collagen (CIV), laminin (LN), type I collagen (CI) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were examined by immunohistochemistry. The tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) content was measured by Western blot method., Results: The MMP-2, 9 activity (gray value) significantly increased in the 2d and 3d DMN model rats (2d: normal/model group, MMP-2: 54.72+/-4.56/70.76+/-7.63; F = 16.27, P < 0.05; MMP-9: 25.72+/-4.29/51.76+/-15.33, F=13.38, P < 0.05). The positive staining area percentage of CIV in the sinusoidal walls decreased in the 2d, 3d and 1 weeks model rats (2d: normal/model group, 6.06+/-1.35/2.86+/-0.63, F=69.12, P < 0.05), but significantly increased in the 4w model rats (normal/model group, 6.06+/-1.35/8.04+/-1.50, F=14.42, P < 0.05). There was a remarkable negative correlation between the MMP-9 activity and expression of CIV in the sinusoidal walls (r = -0.729, P < 0.05). Positive expressions of LN and CI increased, and the strongest positive staining of them displayed in the 4w model rats. The formation of basement membrane was also observed in the 4 weeks model rats. Expression of TIMP-2 significantly increased in the late stage of fibrosis., Conclusions: The increase of MMPs activity, especially MMP-9 which degrades the CIV normally distributed under the sinusoidal endothelium is the important factor in the formation of sinusoidal capillarization. The deposition and reconstitution of LN and new synthetic CIV, adding the deposition of CI constitute the high density basement membrane. The increase of TIMP-2 expression in the late stage of the fibrosis may be one of reasons why natural resolution of DMN-induced liver fibrosis is difficult.

Objective: To study the effect of mifepristone on the expression of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit (beta-CG) and collagen type IV in female Rhesus monkey decidua and villus during the first trimester of pregnancy., Methods: Eighteen sexually mature female Rhesus monkeys were allowed to cohabitate with their male counterparts and diagnosed as being pregnant by B-ultrasound at days 38-45 of the menstrual cycle. They were randomly divided into mifepristone treatment group (15 mg/ml.kg.day, 3 days), control group(no treatment) and CMC-Na treatment group(0.5% CMC-Na, 1 ml/kg.day, 3 days). The content and distribution of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit and collagen type IV in the female Rhesus monkeys were examined by immunohistochemical technique., Results: Compared with the control group, the immunohistochemical reaction intensity of chorionic gonadotropin beta subunit in the plasm of stroma cells, glandular epithelial cells and decidual cells of decidua, and synctial trophoblast cells of villus significantly decreased in the mifepristone treatment group. The positive staining of collagen type IV surrounding the epithelial glandular basal membrane, decidual cells and blood vessels in decidua and surrounding the synctial trophoblast cells in villus were significantly reduced., Conclusion: Mifepristone may have a strong effect in decreasing the bioactivity of beta-CG in decidua and the synthesis of beta-CG in villus, and in accelerating the degradation of collagen type IV in decidua and villus.

Objective: To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9), transforming growth factor beta(1)(TGF-beta(1)) and IV-collagen (C-IV) in kidneys of diabetic rats., Methods: Rat diabetic model was induced by streptozotocin (70 mg/kg), and kidneys were examined pathologically and the expressions of MMP- 2, MMP-9, TGF-beta(1) and C-IV were studied by immunohistochemistry. The results were analyzed by imaging quantitative analysis technique., Result: Immunoreactive MMP-2 and MMP-9 were mainly expressed in the mesangial cells, endothelial cells, parietal layer of Bowman's capsule and tubular cells. The expression of MMP-2 was significantly weaker in the glomeluri of diabetic rats than that of the control animals (P<0.05), while the expression of TGF-beta(1) and C-IV in the glomeluri of diabetic rats was significantly stronger than that of the controls (P%lt;0.05). The expression of MMP-9 didn't show significant different in glomeluri of the two groups (P>0.05)., Conclusion: Expression of MMP-2 in glomeluri is decreased in diabetic rats, which may be related to the increased TGF-beta(1) and in turns promote the accumulation of C-IV.

Objective: Inappropriate treatment at early stage of wound could result in the formation of pseudoepitheliomatous granuloma (PEG). The correlation of abnormal transdifferentiation of epithelial cells to immunologic cells and the occurrence of PEG lesion was investigated., Methods: Morphological change of epithelial tissue was observed with histopathology in 11 specimens of PEG lesions and 6 specimens of normal skins from PEG edge (PEG-N) from 11 patients with damaged skin. The expression characteristics and distribution of pan-cytokeratin (CKp), IV type collagen, laminin (LM), epithelial cadherin (E-Cad), beta-catenin (beta-Cat), focal adhesion kinase (FAK), stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor-c-Kit, proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA), and cluster of differentiation-14 (CD14), CD68 and mast cell tryptase (MCT) in PEG were detected with the immunohistochemical and the indirect immunofluorescent double-staining., Results: In comparison with PEG-N, epithelial tissue take on squamous metaplasia, and stroma was infiltrated with intensive microvessels and inflammatory cells in the PEG lesion. Poor epithelial basal layer constitution, basal polarization, and migration of basal cells to stroma could be observed. In the ultrastructure, the loose intercellular junction of basal cells and the increased nucleus/cytoplasm ratio and intercellular space could be observed, neonatal monocytoid cells and macrophages and mast cells as a exuviate-like manner brooded from cytoplasm of original epithelial cells and basement membrane. protein expression of CKp and E-Cad by basal cells was significantly decreased, and the IV type collagen and LM protein could not be found in basement membrane of identical locus. By contrast, the immunoreactivity of beta-Cat and FAK was apparently increased. In addition, CD14(+) monocytes, CD68(+) macrophages, MCT(+) mast cells and CD68(+)/MCT(+) cells with various size, and these cells of stronger immuno-staining of SCF, c-Kit and PCNA antigen could be found in epithelial tissue and stroma., Conclusion: Epithelial cells in PEG related to wound are characteristized by transdifferentiation of epithelial cells to immunologic cells, wich may be associated with local infectious and inflammatory reaction, ultimately resulting in enhancement the ratio of beta-Cat/E-Cad signal and activation SCF-c-Kit signal pathway. The phenomena of transdifferentiation epithelial cells in the PEG lesion will help to recognize of the neoplatic immune and trauma repair mechanism.

Objective: To study the relationship between collgen (Col) IV, VEGF secreted by the tumor cells and vasculogenic mimicry (VM)., Methods: 158 bi-phase differential malignant tumor specimens were alloted and made into tissue microarray. These tissue microarray sections were stained with CD31, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Col IV. Subsequently, distributive trait of Col IV and the difference of VEGF expression were analyzed., Results: The basement membrane of VM was PAS and Col IV positive. The expression of VEGF in bi-phase differential malignant tumor with VM was less than that in those without VM. The difference of VEGF expression in malignant melanoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was significant (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Collgen IV and periodic acid-Schiff positive material take part in constructing the basement membrane of vasculogenic mimicry. The difference of the VEGF expression proves that vasculogenic mimicry can sustain the tumor blood supply.

Objective: Children with nephrotic syndrome are always associated with retardation of growth. Growth hormone (GH) administration to these children can stimulate their growth, but it plays an important role in glomerulosclerosis. Thus these children would take a risk to use it to improve their growth. This study was designed to investigate the effect of GH on the kidney of rats with adriamycin-induced nephropathy (AN) and its mechanism, and to observe the renoprotective effect of angiotensin II (AngII) receptor antagonist, irbesartan, in GH-treated AN rats., Methods: Rats were divided into the following groups: normal control rats, AN rats, GH-treated AN rats and GH plus irbesartan-treated AN rats. There were 8 developing male SD rats (120-130 g) in each group. Urinary protein was measured at weeks 3, 6 and 9. Blood pressure, serum creatinine, BUN, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, as well as ACE activity and AngII concentration of the kidney were detected at the end of the study. Renal pathological changes were evaluated also. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the protein expressions of TGF beta(1), collagen IV and fibronectin in glomeruli., Results: Glomerular sclerosis score of GH-treated AN rats (49.4 +/- 9.8) was significantly higher than that of AN rats (12.8 +/- 5.5, P < 0.01), and this score of GH-treated AN rats plus irbesartan (26.2 +/- 7.5) was significantly lower than the score of GH-treated AN rats (P < 0.01). The changes of urinary protein, hyperlipidemia and hypoalbuminemia in rats of each group consisted with the degree of glomerular injury in rats of each group. There was azotemia in GH-treated AN rats, but rats in the other groups did not have azotemia. ACE activity of kidney was significantly (P < 0.01) increased in GH-treated AN rats [(28.1 +/- 4.1) U/mg pro] and GH-treated AN rats plus irbesartan [(27.6 +/- 3.4) U/mg pro] compared with that in AN rats [(14.6 +/- 4.4) U/mg pro]. AngII concentrations in the kidney of GH-treated AN rats [(17.8 +/- 3.3) pg/mg pro] and GH-treated AN rats plus irbesartan [(27.3 +/- 5.1) pg/mg pro] were significantly higher than that in AN rats [(8.3 +/- 1.9) pg/mg pro] (P < 0.01). The protein expressions of TGF-beta(1), collagen IV and fibronectin in GH-treated AN rats were the most distinct in all groups. These expressions were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in GH-treated AN rats plus irbesartan., Conclusion: GH is able to exacerbate adriamycin-induced nephropathy in rats, which was partly through activating renal tissue RAS and initiating the function of the AngII-TGF beta(1)-ECM axis. Angiotensin II receptor antagonist, irbesartan, has some renal protective effects on AN rats treated with GH.

Objective: Glomerulosclerosis is characterized by extracellular matrix accumulative and is often associated with mesangial cell proliferation. Curcumin showed a protective effect on anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) nephritis in vivo, although their cellular localization and mechanism of action is still unclear. In this study, a glomerular mesangial cell line derived from fetus was used to determine whether curcumin could inhibit the cell proliferation and alter the extracellular matrix turnover., Methods: The cell activity was determined with MTT method. Mesangial cells were cultured in vitro and incubated with 0, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L curcumin. In addition,human mesangial cells were cultured with or without LPS (10 microg/ml) in presence or absence of various concentrations of curcumin (4, 16 and 200 micromol/L), respectively. The supernatant and cells were collected. Then, the levels of the collagen type IV and III protein in the supernatant were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the IL-1 beta and MCP-1 mRNA in the cells was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after subconfluent quiescent mesangial cells were incubated with various concentrations of curcumin for 24 h in vitro., Results: Curcumin at the concentration equal to or over 6.25 micro mol/L was able to inhibit the proliferation of mesangial cells in a dose-dependent manner, the optical density according to the sequential concentrations of curcumin was 0.65 +/- 0.02, 0.62 +/- 0.04, 0.56 +/- 0.01, 0.53 +/- 0.02, 0.51 +/- 0.03, 0.44 +/- 0.05, 0.41 +/- 0.07 and 0.38 +/- 0.06. Without any stimulation, human mesangial cells secreted some collagen type IV and III (10 +/- 9.13 ng/ml and 29.5 +/- 0.58 ng/ml, respectively) and expressed some MCP-1 mRNA, but did not express IL-1 beta mRNA. LPS increased the expression of collagen type IV and III in the culture medium of mesangial cells in vitro [(138.75 +/- 23.23) ng/ml and (38.25 +/- 5.38) ng/ml] and up-regulated the IL-1 beta and MCP-1 mRNA expression [(16.91 +/- 1.68)% and (76.6 +/- 6.59)%]. Yet curcumin could significantly decrease collagen type IV and III in the supernatant of cultured mesangial cells induced by LPS (20.5 +/- 1.00, P < 0.05 and 20.5 +/- 4.12 ng/ml, P < 0.05) and down-regulated the mRNA expression of IL-1 beta and MCP-1 in mesangial cells induced by LPS (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Curcumin could inhibit the human mesangial cell proliferation and alter the extracellular matrix turnover, meanwhile it could down-regulate the IL-1 beta and MCP-1 mRNA expression induced by LPS, which may be valuable in decreasing the progression of glomerulosclerosis.

Objective: To define the optimal condition to culture human glomerular mesangial cells in vitro., Methods: With a three-layer micropore filter device, we separated the glomerular mesangial cells from normal human, with were subjected to identification with immunohistochemical method. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) staining was performed for labeling of the monoclonal antibodies so as to identify the cells' superficial markers including factor VIII, keratin, cytokeratin, desmine, et al. Glomerular endothelial cells isolated from the same human tissues were also cultured in vitro under the same condition, serving as negative control., Results and Conclusion: The antibodies related to anti-factor VIII, and those of antikeratin and anticytokeratin were negative in the isolated glomerular mesangial cells, while the antibodies for desmine, anti-collagen IV, anti-fibronectin, and anti-laminin were positive, offering evidence for confirming the identification of the isolated and cultured mesangial cells.

Objective: To explore the expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its signaling transduction molecule Smad 2 and their significance in the development of glomerulosclerosis., Methods: Using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry to detect Smad 2 mRNA expression and TGF-beta1, collagen IV, fibronectin expression in renal biopsies from 61 cases with a spectrum of glomerulonephritis including IgA nephropathy (40 cases), membranous glomerulonephritis (10 cases) and sclerosing glomerulonephritis (11 cases), compared with 11 cases of glomerular mild lesion with image analysis system., Results: With the exception of Smad 2 mRNA expression in mild type IgA nephropathy, all other types of diseased glomeruli showed increased expression of both TGF-beta1 and Smad 2 mRNA when compared with the 11 cases of mild glomerular lesions. The expressions of glomerular TGF-beta1 and Smad 2 mRNA positively correlated with collagen IV and fibronectin deposition in the glomeruli., Conclusions: TGF-beta1 and Smad 2 may be involved in the excessive deposition of glomerular extracellular matrix and play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis.

Objective: To study the immunohistochemical alteration of basement membrane (BM) type IV collagen and laminin in oral verrucous carcinoma and its BM ultrastructural variations., Methods: 16 cases of oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC), 10 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 9 cases of oral mild to severe epithelial dysplasia (OMSD) were studied by using a immunohistochemical S-P method, and the results were analyzed by quantitative method. 3 cases of OVC were observed by TEM., Results: The BM in OVC was thicker than in OSCC and OMSD. TEM found the basal lamina in some areas showed a marked reduplication. The BM in OVC was generally intact (13/16), whereas in OSCC it was mostly discontinuous (9/10), especially around the neoplasm front or the small cord consisted of a few cells, and mostly continuous in OMSD (6/9). There was a stromal inflammatory infiltration around tumor nests for all the oral lesions, but it was much heavier in OVC than that in OSCC and OMSD (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between intraepithelial lymphocytic infiltration and the BM continuity for OVC(P < 0.01)., Conclusions: The more continuous BM and the heavier inflammatory infiltration in the connective tissue of OVC may be related to its biological behavior.

Purpose: Keratoconus is a noninflammatory disease characterized by thining and ectasia of the central cornea. The etiology and pathogenesis of keratoconus remain unclear. We studied the composition of basement membranes (BM) in normal, scarred and keratconus corneas to find out possible changes specific for keratoconus., Methods: Paraffin-embeded sections of normal, scarred and keratoconus corneas were immunostained with antibodys against type IV collagen, Fibronectin (Fn) and Laminin (Ln)., Results: Keratoconus had increased staining of the epithelial BM for alpha 1-alpha 2 chain of type IV collagen and Fn, especially in scarred corneal regions. A similar enhancement was also observed in scarred corneas, and there was no significant difference between keratoconus and scarred cornea., Conclusion: A process similar to wound healing would largely contribute to the differences seen in the keratoconus.

Objective: To investigate the characteristics and application of extra-cellular matrix (ECM) of conjunctiva., Methods: Pieces of conjunctival ECM were made, and then the conjunctival defect was repaired with that in an experimental group. Control group 1 received the heterogeneous conjunctiva, and in control group 2, the refrigerated ECM was used for transplantation. All of them were photographed and examined by light microscope, electron microscope (EM), immunohistochemical examination and lymphocyte toxicity test., Results: There were blood vessels growing into the grafts on the 3rd day in the experimental group. The grafts became mildly congestive and similar to normal conjunctival ones in the 4(th) week. But in control group 1, the grafts became white and necrotic in the second week; the conjunctiva was congestive, cicatricial and hyperplastic in the 4(th) week. Under the light microscope, the epithelium covered the most part of the region with the graft in the 2nd week, covered completely in the 4(th) week, and its appearance was as an approximately normal conjunctival epithelium in the experimental group. But the epithelium became ulcerative and a lot of lymphocytes infiltrated in the 2nd week in control group 1. Under the EM, the line of demarcation between the covering region of the regenerative conjunctival epithelium and the naked ECM was quite clear in the 1st week in the experimental group. And the ultrastructure of regenerative conjunctival epithelium was basically the same as an normal one in the 8(th) week. Both before and after transplantation, the immunohistochemical examinations verified that ECM was type I and IV collagen. The lymphocyte toxicity test showed that no obvious humoral immunoreaction existed., Conclusion: Conjunctival ECM has the characteristics of tissue activity and low antigenicity. It is an ideal conjunctival succedaneum in the plastic surgery of conjunctiva.

Objective: To observe the change of the macromolecular components of extracellular matrix of lamina cribrosa (LC) in experimental glaucoma., Methods: Immunoperoxidase (ABC) staining method was used to investigate the changes of collagen type IV and laminin in the lamina cribrosa of 9 monkey eyes with experimental glaucoma., Results: At the late stage of glaucoma, the labeling of collagen type IV and laminin were increased at pre-LC and LC area due to the accumulation of basement membrane-like materials., Conclusion: The changes may be a selective response to elevated intraocular pressure. This response may alter the biochemical composition and the biomechanics of the lamina cribrosa.

Objective: The study was to assess the distribution of basement membrane(BM) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas(LSCC). Correlation of BM and clinical parameters (TNM stage, histological grading, invasion mode, lymph node metastasis) was also examined., Methods: The expression of BM around tumor cell was determined in 40 cases of LSCC by using monoclonal antibody against human type IV collagen. An intact continuous BM was found in 17 cases (42.5%), while partial or widespread loss of the BM was detected in the other 23 cases (57.5%)., Results: In cases with poor histological differentiation, the defect of BM was more severe than that in cases with high or middle histological differentiation (P < 0.05). Moreover, diffuse invasion carcinomas revealed lower type IV collagen expression comparing with cases with better tumor-host border (P < 0.05). There was a higher risk of regional lymph node metastasis among cases with poor BM expression (P < 0.01), but there was no association of clinical stage with BM defect (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: These observations indicated that testing the distribution of BM seems to be useful to evaluate the histological grading of malignancy of laryngeal carcinoma and be helpful to prognosticate the frequency of regional lymph node metastasis.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the content of collagen type IV (ColIV) and laminin (LN) in tissue of oral squamous cell carcinoma and the clinicopathological parameters., Methods: 30 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma came into the study, 6 normal mucosa tissue came from patients who underwent orthogathic operations. The extraction solution was prepared by homogenizing of cancer and normal mucosa tissue in extraction buffer. The content of ColIV and LN in tissue of oral squamous cell carcinoma were measured by radioimmunoassay and represented by amount of per milliliter extraction solution. Mode of invasion (MI) was divided into 4 types basing on the relationship between normal and cancer tissue. The results of measurement of content of ColIV and LN were expressed using mean +/- s, whose correlation with clinicopathological parameters was evaluated by using Student t test., Results: The MI classification showed that type I consisted of 4 cases, and type II comprised 12 cases. 5 and 9 cases belonged to type III and type IV respectively. The content of LN and ColIV in tumor tissue were 1.02 +/- 0.11 micrograms/ml and 1.83 +/- 0.21 micrograms/ml respectively, and the content of LN and ColIV in normal tissue were 1.98 +/- 0.23 micrograms/ml and 2.87 +/- 0.45 micrograms/ml respectively. There was significant difference between the content of ColIV and LN in normal and tumor tissue, and the content of ColIV and LN in normal tissue was much higher than that in cancer tissue (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). No relationship was found between the variation of ColIV and LN content and location and pathological grade of squamous cell carcinoma (P > 0.05), but it was found the content of LN and ColIV in patients with neck lymph node metastasis were greater than that in patients without metastasis (P < 0.05). Content of LN and ColIV also showed negative relationship with the MI index., Conclusion: The assay of LN and ColIV in tumor might be useful for diagnosis of metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma, and moreover, the relationship between ColIV and LN and MI also gives the suggestion that ColIV and LN may play some roles in preventing the invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To demonstrate the macromolecular components of extracellular matrix of lamina cribrosa from young human donors., Methods: Immunoperoxidase (ABC) staining method was used to investigate the distribution of collagen type IV, laminin and fibronectin in the lamina cribrosa of 7 pairs of normal human eyes., Results: There was a large amount of collagen type IV and laminin in the cribrosa plates, but no positive staining of fibronectin in them. The positive staining of fibronectin only existed at the blood vessel region., Conclusion: The lamina cribrosa contains a specialized extracellular matrix of the central nerve system made up of plates of material resembling basement membrane.