ObjectiveTo study the relationship between expression of Caspase-3 and regression of hemangioma. MethodsCaspase-3 expression was detected in 79 hemangiomas and 5 normal skin tissues by immunohistochemistry (SP). ResultsIn 79 hemangiomas, the positive rates of Caspase-3 expression in proliferating, involuting and involuted phases were 52.4%, 91.2% and 83.3%, respectively. The expression of Caspase-3 in involuted and involuting phases was higher than proliferating phase(Plt;0.05，Plt;0.01) and control group(Plt;0.01). There was no statistical difference between the latter two groups (Pgt;0.05). ConclusionCaspase3 is involved in the converting of hemangiomas from proliferating phase into involuting phase. The activation of Caspase-3 may induce apoptosis of endothelial cells, thus leading to the regression of hemagioma.
Abstract： Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, improve the accuracy of clinical diagnosis， and reduce postoperative complications of thoracic hemangioma. Methods Clinical records of 9 patients with thoracic hemangioma who underwent surgical resection in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from January 2006 to August 2012 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 2 males and 7 females with their average age of 47.9±19.3 （18-71）years. Six patients underwent thoracotomy， 1 patient underwent complete video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery （VATS）， 1 patient underwent video-assisted mini-thoracotomy， and 1 patient underwent staged operations which were performed by neurological surgeons and thoracic surgeons separately. Imaging characteristics, intraoperative gross tumor features, and pathological characteristics of resected hemangioma specimens were analyzed. Clinical outcomes of different surgical strategies for the treatment of hemangioma were compared. Results Nine patients with thoracic hemangioma were included in this study. Imaging studies showed the tumor as a round-shaped mass in 66.7% （6/9） of these patients and a lobulated mass in the remaining 33.3% （3/9） patients. Magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） assessment was helpful for preoperative diagnosis of hemangioma， with T2 weighted imaging tumor enhancement as the main MRI feature. Thoracic operation time was 106.3±60.1 （60-192） min， and intraoperative blood loss was 91.1±43.7 （30-150） ml. All the patients were followed up for 3-6 years except 1 patient who was followed up for 1 month. None of the patients had hemangioma-related death， recurrence or metastasis during follow-up. Conclusions Thoracic hemangiomas are usually benign entities and often locate in the mediastinum. Surgical strategies should be determined by the size and location of the tumor as well as the surgeon’s technique level. VATS has the advantages of being minimal invasive, causing less intraoperative blood loss and shorter length of hospital stay for the treatment of hemangioma. Resection of a dumbbell-type hemangioma may need cooperation between neurological and thoracic surgeons.
Objective To explore the effectiveness and appropriate energy parameters of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) in treating infant hemangiomas. Methods Between January 2009 and September 2010, 60 infants with hemangioma were treated. There were 23 boys and 37 girls, aged from 3 to 30 months with an average of 10 months. These hemangiomas were located at head and face (24 cases), trunk (15 cases), l imb (16 cases), buttocks (2 cases), perineum (1 case),and multiple lesions (cervix, abdomen, and upper l imbs, 2 cases). The size of hemangiomas ranged from 0.8 cm × 0.6 cm to 6.0 cm × 5.0 cm. The 60 infants were randomly divided into 3 groups: groups A, B, and C (n=20) based on different ultrasound energies used in treatment. The lesion surface was irradiated with 3-5 mm/second for 5 continuously by ultrasonic therapeutic apparatus at a frequency of 9 MHz, impulse of 1 000, and 10% of scanning overlap; the powers of 3.5, 4.0, and 4.5 W were used in groups A, B, and C, respectively, 3 times as a course of treatment with 1 month interval. The effect and ulcer and scar risk in irradiation region were observed after 6 months of treatment. Results All cases were treated for one course. After 6 months of treatment, no significant difference in the effect was found among 3 groups based on hemangioma treatment judging criterion (P gt; 0.05). Neither ulcer nor scar occurred in group A; ulcer occurred in 4 cases (20%) of group B with superficial scars, and in 7 cases (35%) of group C with obvious scars. The rates of ulcer and scar in groups B and C were significantly higher than that in group A (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion HIFU irradiating is one of effective methods for treating infant hemangioma, but the appropriate energy was below 3.5 W.
Objective To investigate the surgical treatment and curative effect of hemangioma and vascular malformation in body surface. Methods From May 2003 to December 2006, 145 patients with hemangioma or vascular malformation (81 males and 64 females, aging from 2 months to 40 years with median of 17 years) were treated with surgical therapy. The course of disease was from 2 months to 40 years. The locations were head and face in 85 cases, extremities in 34 casesand trunk in 26 cases. The size ranged from 1 cm × 1 cm to 27 cm × 24 cm. Wounds were sutured directly after lesions excision in 40 cases, were repaired with 3 cm × 2 cm-18 cm × 11 cm local flap transferring in 21 cases (donor site sutured directly in 18 and free skin grafted in 3) and with 5 cm × 3 cm-27 cm × 18 cm middle-thick skin graft in 84 cases (abdominal skin donor site sutured directly in 61, thigh skin donor site thin-partial-thickness grafted in 5 and skin in-situ regrafted in 18). Results The pathological results showed 38 cases of capillary hemangioma, 23 cases of venular malformation, 67 cases of venous malformation, 15 cases of arteriovenous malformation and 2 cases of lymphatic malformation. Six of 84 cases receiving free skin graft had partial skin necrosis; one case compl icating by skull exposure achieved heal ing after local fascial flap transferring and other 5 cases achieved heal ing by second intention after dressing changes. Other free skin graft survived. All the donor sites healed by first intention. All patients were followed up for 1-3 years. Recurrence occurred in 12 cases 6 months to 2 years after operation, including 4 cases of arteriovenous malformation, 7 cases of venous malformation and 1 case of venular malformation. They were cured after second operation. The others achieved good results with no recurrence. Conclusion Extensive and thorough excision was the effective way to cure hemangioma and vascular malformation in body surface. All cases should be followed up closely to deal with recurrence promptly.
Objective To study the cl inical features of infantile hemangioma and vascular malformation, to find out a proper strategy of deal ing with them. Methods From March 2000 to August 2007, 2 957 cases of infantile hemangioma and vascular malformation were treated, including 860 operative cases and 2 097 non-operative cases. There were 441 male and419 female patients in operation group, aging 6 months to 18 years (median 5 years). In 1 950 hemangioma patients of nonoperation group, there were 575 male and 1 375 female patients, aging 1 month to 14 years (median 6 months); in 147 vascular malformation patients of non-operation group, there 67 male and 80 female patients, aging 2 years to 17 years (median 7 years). In non-operative group, 147 vascular malformation patients and 1 525 infantile hemangioma patients were followed up without any medical intervention, while other 425 hemangioma patients recceived triamcinolone plus dexamethasone intralesional injection treatment. All the treatments and outcomes were recorded. Results Vascular malformation cases and infantile hemangioma cases presented totally different cl inical features. To the deadl ine of this study, 522 (34%) of 1 525 un-intervented hemangioma cases turned into involuted phase and 383 (90%) of 425 cases receiving triamcinolone plus dexamethasone intralesional injection treatment turned into involuted phase after injection treatment; no regression was noted in 147 cases of vascular malformation. The constituent ratio of infantile hemangioma in 860 operative cases was decreased gradually and the constituent ratio of vascular malformation was increased gradually as the age increasing. Conclusion Infantile hemangioma has a distinct l ife pattern. Except several specific cases need medical intervention for their special location or large ambit and unacceptable growth, most infantile hemangioma need no medical intervention. Most vascular malformations can not regress spontaneously, proper intervention is in need.
To analyze the cl inical effect of retained copper needles well as neoplasm l igation, retained copper needles associated with Pingyangmycin injection and inserted copper needles followed by DC in treating hemangiomaso as to treat hemangioma with copper needles. Methods From January 1999 to January 2006, 55 cases of hemangioma in superficial body were treated with copper needles, including 28 males and 27 females and aging 3-50 years(median 19 years). There were 42 cases of cavernous hemangiomas, 4 cases of racemose hemangiomas and 9 cases of multipl icate hemangiomas. The size ranged from 6 cm × 4 cm to 40 cm × 25 cm. Retaining copper needles were used in 29 cases, retaining copper needles with l igating neoplasm in 21 cases, retaining copper needles associated with Pingyangmycin injection in 3 cases and inserting copper needles followed by DC in 2 cases. Results Fifty cases were treated with copper needles only once and 5 cases twice. All cases were followed up for three to eighteen months. According to Wang Yongjie’s criterion, 15 (27.3%) cases were cured, 38 (69.1%) improved, and 2（3.6%）failed to respond; the response rate was 96.4% (53). Conclusion Copper needle is efffective for treating hemangioma in superficial body. Retaining copper needles with l igation neoplasm or with Pingyangmycin injection can achieve better effect.
Objective To explore the mechanism of laser and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of hemangioma. Methods A total of 48 6-month-old male chickens were divided into 6 groups, with 8 in each group. The side with the untreated comb served as the control. Group A was the control group. In groups B and C, the combs received laser irradiation once of 10 J/cm2 and 15 J/cm2, respectively, for 2-3 minutes. In group D, hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) of 10 mg/kg was injected into the left-side axillary vein once. In groups E and F, the combs received laser irradiation of 10 J/cm2 and 15 J/cm2, respectively, after 10 mg/kg HMME was injected for 10 minutes into the left-side axillary vein. On the 14th day, HE staining was performed and the decrease rate of the number of capillary vessels was calculated. Besides, TUNEL stainingwas conducted to observe the condition of capillary endothel ium apoptosis. Results No animal died after the operation,the combs in groups A and D had no obvious changes in shape and color, but the ones in the other groups had leukasmus, edema, necrosis and dark crust. According to histological observation, in groups A and D, the combs had no obvious changes. But in the other groups, tissue exudation, edema, inflammatory cell exudation, decreasing number of vessels, waning vascular cal iber, thrombus, and partial capillary endothel ium apoptosis were found. The decrease rate of the number of capillary vessels was as follows: 7.87% ± 2.50% in group A, 48.58% ± 5.10% in group B, 57.58% ± 8.17% in group C, 8.84% ± 3.13% in group D, 61.26% ± 16.87% in group E and 68.56% ± 10.54% in group F. The apoptosis index in all groups was 1.05 ± 0.76, 82.22 ± 6.18, 94.13 ± 1.64, 1.38 ± 0.52, 101.88 ± 5.94, 104.88 ± 6.22, respectively. There were significant differences between groups B, C, E, F and groups A, D in the above two items (P lt; 0.01). There were significant differences between groups B and E as well as between groups C and F (P lt; 0.01). There were no significant differences between groups B and C as well as groups E and F (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Apoptosis of capillary endothel ium maybe play an important role in the laser and photodynamic therapy of hemangioma apart from the direct effect of laser.
Objective To observe the influences of estradiol (E2), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and tamoxifen (TAM) on the proliferation of hemangioma vascular endothelial cell (HVEC). Methods Two strawberry hemangioma from 2 infants (case 1 and case 2) were prepared for HVEC culture. The HVEC on passage 3 were cultured in estrogenfree improved minimum essential medium (IMEM) and subjected to various treatments with 100 pg/ml 17-β-E2, 10 ng/ml bFGF, and 1×10-6 mol/L 4-OH-tamoxifen(4-OH-TAM). The experiment was divided into 5 groups: group 1(IMEM, control group), group 2(17-β-E2), group 3(bFGF), group 4(17-β-E2／bGFG) and group 5(17-β-E2／bGFG／4-OH-TAM). The cell count(CC) and DNA proliferation index (PI) were determined. Results Two cases of HVEC were successfully cultured in vitro. The HVEC showed cobblestoneslike under microscopy and factor Ⅷrelated antigen(also named as von Willebrand factor，vWF) was positive by immunochemical staining. At 9 days in case 1: CC and PI remained unchanged in the control group; CC and PI were slightly increased in group 2, being 1.4 and 1.6 times as much as those in the control group respectively (P＜0.05); CC and PI significantly increased in group 3, being2.6 and 2.3 times as much as those in the control group respectively (P＜0.01); CC and PI increased remarkably in group 4, being 3.7 and 2.9 times as much as those in thecontrol group respectively (P＜0.01); CC and PI were down to the levels of controls in group 5(P＞0.05). The results in case 2 were similar to those in case 1. Conclusion In vitro, the promoting effect of bFGF on HVEC proliferation is much ber than that of estrogen. Estrogen and bFGF enhance this proliferation in a synergistic manner, which can be inhibited by tamoxifen.
Objective To explore the changes in the serum Cu2+and the indexes for the liver pathology and biochemistry before and after the copper needle retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears. Methods Fortynine New Zealandrabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: Group A (copper needles retained for 1 d), Group B (3 d), Group C (5 d), Group D (7 d), and Group E (the control group, without any copper needles retained). In each experimental group, there were 10 rabbits, and in the control group there were 9 rabbits. The rabbits in each group were arranged to have their venous blood drawn for determination of theCu2+concentration, and for observation on the changes in the liver biochemicalindexes for 5 times before and after the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears. At the same time, a piece of the liver tissue ineach rabbit was taken for examination of the pathological changes. All the liver samples were given the basic pathological examination; if the liver sample hadsome extraordinary pathological features, the specific pathological examinationwould be given, even using the transmission electron microscope. Results After the copper needles were retained in the central veins of the rabbit ears, the Cu2+concentration increased with the passing time. The concentrations in the groups were 1.40±0.49 μg/ml in Group A, 1.45±0.53 μg/ml in Group B, 2.01±0.40 μg/ml in Group C, 2.38±0.83 μg/ml in Group D, and 1.34±0.45 μg/mlin Group E, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between Group D and Group E(P＜0.05). There were no significant changes in the ALT and AST levels when compared with those before the copper needles were retained(P＞0.05); however, there was a considerably positive correlation on 1st day (r=0.686, P＜0.05), 5th day (r=0.712, P＜0.05), and 7th day (r=0.768, P＜0.01) when compared with those after the copper needles were retained. The histological examination showed that aseptic inflammation subsided with the time in part of the liver. The Masson staining and the Ag staining showed that there were no obvious changes in the hepatic lobules, with no fibrosis of the liver tissues found under light microscope. Conclusion There are no obvious toxic and side effects on the rabbit liver after the copper needles are retained in its central veins.
OBJECTIVE To discuss the methods selection on treatment of body surface hemangioma. METHODS From February 1983 to March 2001, 265 patients with different types of body surface hemangioma were treated with prednisone in 94 cases, laser in 102 cases, and plastic surgery operation in 69 cases respectively. RESULTS Followed up 6 months to 15 years, 70 cases with prednisone treatment were cured (74.5%), which meaned the hemangioma was totally removed and no recurrence in 6 months follow-up, 51 cases with laser treatment were cured (50%), while in the plastic surgery operation group, the cure rate was 98.6% (68 cases). CONCLUSION Treatment with prednisone, laser or plastic surgery operation are all effective to body surface hemangioma and proper treatment method should be selected according to different period and different type of hemangioma to improve the therapeutic effectiveness.