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Adipose tissue is one of the major endocrine gland. More recently, local production of steroids in adipocytes differentiated from mouse 3T3-L1 cell-line was reported. We hypothesized that rat adipocytes have steroidogenic machinery and the expression patterns of the components might be differentially regulated, depending on the distribution and sex. To verify this hypothesis, we collected the adipose tissues depot- and sex-specifically at postnatal day (PND) 30, and performed quantitative RT-PCRs. In overall aspects, the abundances of the transcripts were lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. 3β-HSD transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, CYP17 transcript levels in female reproductive adipose, 17β-HSD transcript levels in female abdominal and reproductive adipose, and CYP19 transcript levels in female abdominal adipose were significantly lower than those of male counterparts. Similar to steroidogenic factors, the abundance of the ER-α transcripts were generally lower in the brown adipose of both sexes. ER-β transcripts were more abundant in male white adipose depots than their female counterparts. The levels of LHR transcripts in female reproductive adipose were significantly higher than those of male counterpart. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that the expressions of steroidogenesis-related genes were depot- and sex-specifically occurred in the immature male and female rat adipose tissues. Our study suggested that the adipose tissues are not only targets but de novo synthesizing sites of sex steroid(s), though the synthesizing activities could be much less than in gonads. Further researches in this field will be helpful for understanding the adipose physiology and for medical application such as sex-specific steroid supplement therapies for older populations.

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Background: Here, we assess the diagnostic value of tumour-associated microparticles (taMPs), for the detection and therapy monitoring of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Methods: FACS was applied to detect various taMP populations in patients' sera that were associated with the presence of a liver tumour. In total 172 patients with liver cancer, 54 with cirrhosis and no liver neoplasia, 202 control subjects were enrolled and in 27 liver cancer patients a R0 resection was performed. Results: AnnexinV+EpCAM+ASGPR1+CD133+ taMPs allowed the distinction of liver malignancies and cirrhosis from tumour-free individuals and, more importantly, from patients carrying other non-liver cancers. Annex-inV+EpCAM+ASGPR1+ taMPs were increased in liver cancer-bearing patients (HCC orCCA) by 3.05-fold (p< 0.0005). ROC values, sensitivity/specificity and positive/ negative predictive values ( >78%) indicated a potent diagnostic accuracy.In addition, Annex-inV+EpCAM+ASGPR1+ taMPs decreased from 26.7 (pre-R0 resection) to 16.1 AnnexinV+EpCAM+ASGPR1+ taMPs per 103 AnnexinV+ MPs (day 2 post-R0 resection, p<0.005), and remained low at day 10 post-OP (7.7, p<0.05). The smallest size of successfully detected liver tumours were ranging between 11-15 mm. Conclusion:Our results demonstrate that taMPs-based liquid biopsy might represents a novel accurate tool that will improve diagnostics and therapy in patients with primary liver cancers. Additionally, taMPs could be suitable to monitor anti-tumoral therapy response.

was shown (p=0.62), if the sensor was placed intrahepatically. TPE increased when placing the sensor externally (p<0.01). Mean time for navigated targeting: 13.6 sec. TPE did not differ when targeting under continuous breathing versus in apnoe (p=0.08). Conclusion:This technique allows continuous intrahepatic tumour tracking and accurate and efficient targeting of liver lesions in an animal model. It might represent a simple approach for combined ablation and TACE in a single treatment session.